SACRAMENTO - Sandra Lee Rahn filed a federal lawsuit on December 2 in the Eastern District Court of California against the City of Atwater, Atwater Police Department, Chief of Police Michael Salvador and Officer Evan Pitney for unreasonable force, violation of the Bane Act, assault and breach of covenant of quiet enjoyment.
According to the lawsuit, on Dec. 17, 2020, fellow defendant Atwater city manager Lori Waterman went to Rahn's home with the intent of forcing her to allow an agent of Waterman's, a real estate appraiser, to enter her home and perform service for Waterman's personal benefit while absent of any connection, involvement or business association with or concerning the City of Atwater.
Rahn declined Waterman and her agent entering due to her husband's recent death and meeting restrictions involving COVID-19, the suit says. Waterman then called Salvador to arrive at the home and began harassing, annoying, verbally assaulting, accusing and threatening Rahn in an attempt to get her to allow them inside, the suit claims. On Nov. 18, 2021, Waterman went through the same process as the day before and summoned Pitney's help in attempting to get Rahn to allow the men in her home, the suit says.
Rahn seeks an award for compensatory, general and special damages, exemplary and punitive damages, statutory penalties, attorney's fees and cost of suit. Rahn is represented by Lawrence T. Niermeyer of Modesto.
Eastern District Court of California case number 1:21-cv-01712-DAD-SKO