A Los Gatos resident has filed a lawsuit against three local figures, alleging a conspiracy to defame and exclude her from public meetings, thereby violating her First Amendment rights. Lynley Kerr Hogan initiated the complaint on November 14, 2024, in the Superior Court of California for Santa Clara County against Rob Moore, Maria Ristow, and Lee Fagot.
The case revolves around allegations that the defendants conspired to prevent Hogan from participating in Democracy Tent meetings—a forum for civic engagement in Los Gatos. According to Hogan, she was unjustly accused of threatening violence at a Town Council meeting by Moore and Ristow. These accusations were reportedly spread among community members and led to her exclusion from the meetings. "Plaintiff suffered extreme shame, humiliation, mortification and shock," the complaint states.
Hogan claims that Moore further retaliated against her by posting misleading information about her on nextdoor.com, suggesting she had been involved in criminal activity related to a past zoning dispute—a case that was dismissed. The plaintiff argues this act was intended to damage her reputation following her reporting on a controversial Drag Queen event at the Los Gatos Library. She alleges that Moore's actions incited hatred towards her within the community.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of multiple legal violations including defamation per se by libel and slander, false light invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and retaliation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Hogan seeks compensatory damages exceeding $35,000 as well as punitive damages to deter future misconduct. She also requests injunctive relief to prevent further interference with her constitutional rights.
Representing herself pro se in this matter is Lynley Kerr Hogan. The case is presided over by judges at the Superior Court of California for Santa Clara County under Case No: #e4CV41604.