Police Beatings Feature in $15 Million Oakland Lawsuit

Local cops are already under scrutiny

OAKLAND -- Plaintiffs in a $15 million federal civil rights lawsuit against UC Berkeley administrators and police got their first hearing before a judge Tuesday, nearly two years after Occupy protesters said they were beaten by police on Sproul Plaza.

Lawyers for former UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, former Police Chief Mitch Celaya and six other administrators asked Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers in U.S. District Court in Oakland to dismiss them from the suit and the claims they gave the orders that resulted in violations of free speech, excessive force and false arrest on Nov. 9, 2011.

Rogers did not rule, but took the arguments under submission.

(H/T Charles WT)