Christie v. City of El Centro

Opinion

NARES, J.

In this action for false arrest and wrongful imprisonment brought by Ben Charles Christie, the court set aside a nonsuit and dismissal in favor of the City of El Centro, the El Centro Police Department, and El Centro Police Officers Ray Bonillas and Efran Coronel (collectively, the City). The court granted a new trial for “irregularity of the proceedings” because the judge who granted nonsuit, the Honorable Barrett Foerster, had discussed the case with a previously disqualified judge, the Honorable Jeffrey Jones. The court found Judge Foerster disqualified to rule on the…