Ray Christie sues County of Humboldt, former HCSO Deputy Travis Mendes, former Humboldt Deputy DA Adrian Kamada, Sheriff Honsal

 

I am the first to get these court documents and report on this lawsuit. When you are represented by a winning law firm that is a top law firm nationally and internationally; I guarantee this will be picked up by national news media.

Yesterday,  on behalf of Ray Christie, Larson Law Firm LLP partner, Mr. Rick Richmond, filed a 68 page lawsuit in the U.S. District of Northern California against the County of Humboldt, former HCSO Deputy Travis Mendes, former Humboldt Deputy DA now Humboldt Deputy Public Defender Adrian Kamada, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal and Does 1-10.

The County and individuals have not been served yet, according to Mr. Richmond who I briefly spoke with this morning.

I did exclusive coverage on Christie's 2018 case and reported what, as usual, other media ignored. I just did a post yesterday on Mendes, Kamada and the 2018 case and Christie's criminal conviction being expunged. I was also the only one who reported on Christie's plea.

The lawsuit covers a lot of what I reported previously including my post on Mendes wannabe cowboy page 6 and I thank Mr. Richmond on page 48 for the comment about my balanced reporting. I covered Mendes' excessive force behavior lawsuit.

"Community backlash against Ray was swift.  Multiple area news outlets and local journalists covered Ray’s case, such as The Times-Standard, The Lost Coast Outpost, The North Coast Journal, Redheaded Blackbelt, and John Chiv’s Words Worth, which among all the local media outlets, was the only balanced reporting available at the time.  Several of these outlets maintain comment sections, where members of the community wrote about their hatred of Ray, disparaging him, calling him an animal abuser, and advocating for his animals to be taken away and for Ray to spend the rest of his life in prison. "

Many feel that way in Humboldt but will not state it in public. What Mr. Richmond states is how people treat me in other parts of California and the nation with respect and acknowledgement of hard work and journalism experience I have for 40 years. I investigated this case, took the time to look into information not covered by others. This lawsuit is needed because the powers to be and the criminal justice system in Humboldt has destroyed many lives due to the Humboldt inept good ole boys and gals politics. I have written about selective justice and targeting of certain people. 

This lawsuit will benefit more than just Ray Christie. 

9:22 a.m. A press release was just sent out about this lawsuit by Larson Law Firm LLP. It has the summary of the lawsuit.

Jury trial where Humboldt attorneys represented a local business and the plaintiffs vs State of CA and other defendants concludes on day 17, the jury ruled in favor defendants

 

After a 17 day jury trial and this does not include the motions in limine, the State of California, one of the defendants in the case . There are several parties and several attorneys including local attorneys.Mr. Patrik Griego and Mr. Brad Floyd who represented plaintiffs, this is a 2022 case. I am not going to summarize three years of a complex case. Mr. Griego's portion of the case settled prior to trial.

I have included the verdict forms.

Humboldt's Dustin Owens first won against a San Diego attorney on his home turf; then prevailed again in the appeal filed in CA's Fourth Apellate District

 

(Photo: John Chiv)

Mr. Dustin Owens, partner at Owens and Ross, serves Humboldt and Del Norte counties in California. The law firm handles civil, family and criminal cases.

Add one more win to my previous coverage of Mr. Owens' successes. Yesterday, I confirmed with Mr. Owens that he won an appeal after argument last week, got a decision this week and the opinion was published.

4th Appellate District Division 1 ruled in favor of Mr. Owens and counsel for other defendants. The civil lawsuit is Bird Rock Home Mortgage, LLC v. Breaking Ground, LP et al. Appeal filed 05/06/2024.

Nursing Assistant Paul Nkoy Lumbi, Jr arrested and charged with 7 felonies and special allegations for alleged sexual assault of three elderly patients in Pacific Grove facility

 

Nursing Assistant Paul Nkoy Lumbi, Jr arrested and charged with 7 felonies and special allegations for alleged sexual assault of three elderly patients in Pacific Grove facility.

I have included the entire complaint.

Santa Rosa Diocese Bishop Robert Vasa declaration in State of CA vs St. Joseph Providence lawsuit says he is "responsible for assuring the Catholicity" of the Catholic entities operating "within my Diocese"; St. Joe's attorneys withdraw as counsel

 

On 8/4, there was  a motion hearing to enforce in the People of the State of California vs St. Joseph. It was continued by stipulation. 

On 8/4/25, the motion to withdraw as counsel by attorneys representing St. Joe's was granted by Judge Canning. Since my last post, several documents were filed including a declaration by Santa Rosa Diocese Bishop Robert Vasa in support of motion to modify. He is one of the most conservative U.S. bishops.

On 8/29, there is a hearing on the motion to modify e stipulation and a hearing on the motion to enforce stipulation & order.

California Attorney General Bonta files a lawsuit against group of management and real estate holding companies owned by Southern California rental-housing tycoon Swaranjit “Mike” Nijjar, his sister Daljit “DJ” Kler, and other family members for violation of housing laws and exploiting tenants

 

California Attorney General Bonta filed a lawsuit against group of management and real estate holding companies owned by Southern California rental-housing tycoon Swaranjit “Mike” Nijjar, his sister Daljit “DJ” Kler, and other members of his family. First five pages of the lawsuit are a just the cover sheet and all defendants.

I already reported on this win for City of Eureka and Wiyot Tribe in May and June, the request to publish opinion was granted today

Since my last post, the only new information is that Mr. Gregory Holtz, formerly at Legal Services of Northern California in Humboldt and now in private practice in Sacramento, is also representing City of Eureka.

Request filed to publish opinion in CBE lawsuit lost against City of Eureka and Wiyot Tribe

 

Today this occurred in Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka

Case: A170214 1st District, Division 3.

I did two posts last month and no one else reported these developments. With 10 to 15 court cases, other news, I am not doing another detailed post.

Another California judge agrees to a deal with CJP to retire, Michael Carrozo CJP hearing vacated

 

On 4/11/25, the Commission on Judicial Performance issued a press release vacating a hearing date concerning Santa Barbara Judge Michael Carrozzo and stating further public announcement would be issued.

CJP Chief Counsel Gregory Dresser is quoted in  the Daily Journal confirming a stipulation is pending. The settlement includes an agreement that Carrozo would retire in September. 

Retired Del Norte Judge admonished for serious misconduct towards a domestic violence victim, CJP 1, JCC and Governor's office 0

 

(Linkedin profile, I cropped the photo because the original had his grandkids)

Retired Del Norte Superior Court Judge Robert Cochran was publicly admonished by the California Commission on Judicial Performance last month for serious misconduct towards a domestic violence victim.

Judge Cochran waived his right to formal proceedings under rule 118 and to review by the Supreme Court.  

Maybe if the California Governor's Judicial Appointments staff did their job and the California Judicial Council actually paid attention to local courts; people would not suffer abuse of power and have their lives ruined. 

In 2021, I did a post. This is just the first paragraph of that post. "California named worst "Judicial Hellhole".  The state has been in in the top 3 for the dishonor for a decade and was named "Everlasting Judicial Hellhole" this summer. This was by the the American Tort Reform Association." 

Kelly Walsh filed a notice of limited scope representation in the Gregory Kreis and Brenda Elvine family law case 11 days before trial setting regarding spousal support

 

The last post I did on Gregory Kreis and Brenda Elvine's family law case was on January 27,2025. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/01/trial-setting-scheduled-at-end-of.html?m=1

For new readers, the case has been "reciprocally assigned" to Sonoma Superior Court. In that post, I reported that trial setting regarding spousal support was continued to 4/4/25 because local family law attorney Mr. Kelly Walsh who endorsed Kreis in the last election "substituted in." On March 25, 2025, Mr. Walsh filed a notice of limited scope representation.

Santa Barbara judge CJP hearing set for alleged misconduct involving his judicial secretary who he married

 

In January, I did this post on Santa Barbara Judge Michael Carrozzo.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/01/commission-on-judicial-performance.html?m=1

Yesterday, the Commission on Judicial Performance issued a notice and press release about a special masters being appointed for a hearing scheduled for April 14 where evidence will be presented and witnesses will testify about the alleged charges. You can read details about those charges in my January post. The alleged misconduct involves Judge Carrozzo' judicial secretary who he married.

4/4/25: New special masters appointed.

"As we have made clear in our briefs, Providence is in the wrong. There is no legal basis to dismiss our case."

 

I was planning on some court documents for tomorrow's hearing which is on the demurrer filed by Providence in the lawsuit filed against them by the State of California. This includes Providence adding more lawyers to their team.

This was before California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today "in advance of tomorrow's hearing on Providence St. Joseph Hospital’s (Providence) attempt to dismiss the Attorney General’s lawsuit."

Father of one of the John Does raped by Darrius Upshaw does deserve answers from CSU and Chi Phi

 

(Upshaw)

I extensively covered convicted rapist Darrius Upshaw's case and jury trial as well as the civil case regularly. In my coverage, as it is practice, I referred to the victims as John Doe's. In September 2021, Judge Kelly Neel sentenced former HSU student, Chi Phi fraternity member and Upshaw to 10 years in prison in his Humboldt case. Upshaw has to register as a sex offender.

No other media covered it as I did and only I covered the civil case. The civil case settled and was dismissed in November 24. In the civil case, the plaintiff chose to use his name in court records.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/11/rapist-darrius-upshaw-chi-phi-and.html?m=1

There are too many posts on both the criminal and civil case to link.If you are an advertiser, subscriber or donor, email me and I will send you the links or a customized response. Others can search the blog for the posts. 

An email was sent today to me and some other media. CSU and Chi are free to issue and send a statement in response to Geoffrey Miller. The only thing I have not included in the text are some links provided by Geoffrey Miller which include my coverage of the case.

Trial setting scheduled at the end of January in Gregory Kreis and Brenda Elvine family law case

 

I am not linking every single post on Gregory Kreis and Brenda Elvine's family law case. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/09/gregory-kreis-ordered-to-information.html?m=1

The last post I did was on September 27, 2024. I added an October update to that post as I do with other court cases.

On 1/24/25, there was a hearing for status conference  and request for order hearing-Sanctions in this case. Humboldt e court lists orders made but no details. There is a trial setting on 1/31/25. These are the court minutes from 1/24/25. 

Later, when I checked the case on 2/4/25 more detailed minutes were added. Kreis has hired Humboldt attorney Kelly Walsh who requested a continuance. Trial setting regarding spousal support is scheduled for 4/4/25. Walsh endorsed Kreis in the last election which Kreis lost with an overwhelming defeat. His opponent, now Humboldt Superior Court Judge April Van Dyke got over 60% of the vote.

"Many Californians have high expectations that cannabis is legal in California. This is a reasonable assumption because Civil Code section 1550.5 says it is We regret to inform that cannabis is illegal in California because federal law says so."

 

This ruling was decided in October 29, 2024. It is a case which resulted in a loss for Santa Barbara County and involves a conditional use permit.

Humboldt County appeals are heard in The First District Court of Appeal.  

Commission on Judicial Performance files formal proceedings against another Assistant and Presiding Judge, this one from Santa Barbara Superior Court

 

The Commission on Judicial Performance issued a press release on December 18, 2024 and posted a notice of formal proceedings on December 12, 2024 to inquire "into matters concerning Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Michael J. Carrozzo. 

Judge Carrozzo's answer was due January 2, 2025. It has either not been filed or not posted yet on the CJP website. San Diego attorney, Ms. Heather L. Rosing, is representing Judge Carrozzo.

There are six alleged counts. 

"By the following allegations, you are charged with willful misconduct in office, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute, and improper action, within the meaning of article VI, section 18 of the California Constitution, which provides for the removal, censure, public admonishment, or private admonishment of a judge or former judge."-- Page 1 notice

I am not going to post the entire notice. It is available on the CJP website. 

Who will prevail in the lawsuit filed by Boys and Girls of Sonoma Valley against Adina Flores, Laura Ainsworth et al? This lawsuit has a lot of deja vu and red flags like "Newsworthy"

 

(Sonoma Superior Court)

Have Adina Flores  and Laura Ainsworth uncovered news that should be investigated further or will Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma Valley prevail? Hard to tell at this juncture.

Andrea Cannizzaro suing Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension for being "attacked and violently assaulted" at YMCA Camp Ravencliff

 

(Facebook)

On 12/9/24, a case management conference was scheduled in a lawsuit filed by Andrea Cannizzaro against the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension. That hearing was continued by Judge Timothy Canning to 4/11/25.

The complaint alleges that on 6/16/2022 at the YMCA Camp Ravencliff in Redway, Cannizaro was "attacked and violently assaulted". Cannizaro was working as a camp counselor, a male counselor Doe 1 asked one of his campets Doe 2 "to sneak into Andrea's cabin" and hit her as hard as he could while Cannizaro was sleeping. She suffered a concussion "includibg traumatic brain injury."

Unlike mainstream California media, even if I had not done this post, my readers could research or google this information and do a better job of informing the public about the lawsuit filed by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Maryanne Gilliard

 

Unlike mainstream Californiamedia, even if I had not done this post, my readers could research or google this information and do a better job of informing the public about the lawsuit filed by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Maryanne Gilliard. 

I don't expect much from CALMatters or the other publications such as the Orange County Register or U.S. News World and Report but the Daily Journal that is supposed to be this big to do in the legal community could do better than sloppy, lazy so called "reporting."