Defamation case against Los Gatos councilmembers dismissed in court

"Hogan is a local activist known for her alignment with a far-right organization that interrupted Los Gatos Town Council meetings with anti-LGBTQ comments in 2021. She sued Vice Mayor Rob Moore, Councilmember Maria Ristow and private citizen Lee Fagot last November, alleging that they conspired to defame her. Hogan dropped her initial lawsuit in January, but filed another one that was nearly identical to the one she dropped,"

"Santa Clara County Superior Court documents state that Hogan attended one meeting on Zoom in June 2023 and posted comments in the about a Drag Queen Story Time at Los Gatos Library that people found upsetting. In September, Fagot emailed other Los Gatos Democracy Tent members incorrectly saying that Ristow had a restraining order against Hogan. Fagot told Hogan in February 2024 that 20 people voted to ban Hogan from Democracy Tent meetings because she threatened death to someone during a town council meeting."

"In June 2024, Hogan distributed anti-LGBTQ fliers about a 2023 Drag Queen Story Time event, which Moore posted about on NextDoor, expressing his sympathy with those who were troubled by the fliers and identifying her with a link to an article about two previous restraining orders brought against her in March 2012. Hogan asserted that the post implied that (she) had committed a crime or had been punished for committing a crime, thus painting her in a false and misleading light."

Lynley Hogan, a far-right-aligned local activist, sued Vice Mayor Rob Moore, Councilmember Maria Ristow and resident Lee Fagot alleging a conspiracy to defame her. Hogan dropped an initial suit in January but filed a nearly identical second suit after the town agreed to fund Moore and Ristow's defense. Hogan participated in Los Gatos Democracy Tent meetings and was accused of posting upsetting comments and being the subject of incorrect emails about a restraining order. She was reportedly banned after threats of death. Hogan distributed anti-LGBTQ fliers about a 2023 Drag Queen Story Time; Moore posted about those fliers on NextDoor. A judge dismissed Hogan's lawsuit and ordered her to pay the legal fees of those she accused.

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