California IN BRIEF : SANTA ANA : Democrats Sued Over Party Forum

A relatively unknown candidate for the Democratic nomination for state insurance commissioner, Larry Murphy of Temecula, sued state party Chairman Edmund G. Brown Jr. and other party officials for $10 million for denying him a place on the rostrum when the party held a debate among insurance commissioner candidates April 7, before voting to give television commentator Bill Press its endorsement. Murphy said he paid a $100 filing fee but was the only candidate denied a chance to debate. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, said this was both a breach of contract and a violation of Murphy’s civil rights.