Acosta federal lawsuit set to begin Oct. 21

Attorneys on both sides of a federal lawsuit claiming that Costa Mesa officials hindered a Latino activist’s right to free speech when they threw him out of a 2006 City Council meeting had until Monday to file any last motions before trial.

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union representing Benito Acosta, 27, and from the law offices of Woodruff, Spradlin & Smart, representing Costa Mesa, did not comment if they intended to make any motions Monday, but court records show they were preparing for trial.

Last week, both sides submitted their lists of potential witnesses for the trial, scheduled to begin Oct. 21.

Each side has about three dozen witnesses to call.

Acosta was arrested at a Jan. 3, 2006 City Council meeting soon after being thrown out of the Council Chambers by police. Acosta was there, one of many activists in the audience, speaking against an approved resolution that called for the city and police to partner with federal immigration enforcement officials to enforce immigration laws on a local level. Video shows Acosta asking those supporting him to stand, and encouraging them after city officials opposed the move. Police soon threw him out of the building and arrested him. He claims his right to free speech was violated and sued the city months later.

— Joseph Serna