New lawsuit filed against Headwaters forest activists

A new lawsuit has been filed against individuals present at a gate leading to the THP-520 harvest plan near Eureka, California.

On 10/23/2001, 9 people were arrested at a gate leading towards the "Hole in the Headwaters" timber harvest plan (THP) 520, currently being logged by the MAXXAM/Pacific Lumber company. A criminal case is pending (though the activists maintain that they did not blockade the road), and in the meantime a new lawsuit has been filed against those 9 individuals as well as 1-200 unnamed "Does" "acting in concert" with them. It is expected that the lawsuit will be used to both intimidate local activists from speaking out against the practices of MAXXAM/PL and to further harass anyone who is arrested for Headwaters-related activities in the future.

This is very similar to the SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) suit filed against activists (and others) related to the THP's in the Mattole watershed, but is in fact a separate action. It seeks damages relating to the morning of the 23rd for idle truck time, idle worker time, pain and suffering, and so on, amounting to around $10,200.