Cooper

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS AND FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES

This matter came on for hearing on motions of Defendants Cooper to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and improper venue, and on motions of Defendants Cooper, Mabry, and Molko to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for attorney’s fees. For the reasons set out below, all of Defendants’ motions are denied.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Will Cooper, a member of the Unification Church, brings this suit against his parents, seven alleged “deprogrammers,” and various members of the Oakland and South San Francisco Police Departments, including Officers Folks and “Cop” of the Oakland Police Department. He charges that Defendants violated a variety of his federal and state rights -in an unsuccessful attempt to “deprogram” him from his adherence to the Unification Church.

Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that his parents and the “deprogrammers” abducted him outside of a restaurant in Oakland, and took him to a motel in South San Francisco where he was held captive for about five days. While he was being held at the motel, the “deprogrammers” allegedly subjected Plaintiff to verbal abuse…