Suit Against Councilman Dismissed

A lawsuit accusing City Councilman Harold R. Kaufman of slander has been dismissed by Superior Court Judge Dennis S. Choate.

Dana Point activist and attorney Geoffrey N. Lachner filed the lawsuit against the councilman in September.

Lachner alleged in court documents that, during a City Council meeting in June, Kaufman made reference to Lachner’s fee in a certain case.

Because of Kaufman’s comments, Lachner said, he “suffered loss of his reputation, shame, mortification and injury to his feelings.”

Choate ruled that Kaufman’s comments were protected because they were made during a council meeting, where elected officials have immunity, said Kaufman’s attorney, Ed Richards of the firm Haight, Brown & Bonesteel in Santa Ana.

Kaufman said neither he nor Richards was surprised by the judge’s decision.

“I knew it was going to happen,” Kaufman said of the dismissal.

Lachner, who served as his own attorney, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Kaufman and Lachner have been on opposite sides of several city issues in recent years.