City of Los Angeles v. Superior Court

J.—In this mandamus proceeding, two defendants seek a writ to compel the superior court to sustain their demurrer, based on the statute of limitations.

According to the allegations of the first amended complaint, which we of course accept as true at this stage, plaintiff was detained and strip-searched at the Los Angeles International Airport by employees of the United States Customs Service on March 1, 1982. Plaintiff was then taken into custody by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, which made further successive body searches at its airport substation, the Venice Division headquarters, the Municipal Court in Culver City, and the Los Angeles County Jail. Plaintiff alleges each of these searches was conducted pursuant to official policies and practices of the City of Los Angeles, was unjustified and unnecessary, and violated his constitutional rights. Named as defendants are the City of Los Angeles (City) and Robert Poteete, whom the complaint identifies as an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Plaintiff filed his complaint on February 28, 1986, just short of four years after the events of which he complains. After a delay of an additional three…