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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Two groups have filed a lawsuit alleging their constitutional rights were violated during the 2006 legislative session when officers interfered with their handing out fliers and buttons.
The lawsuit was filed against the state by the Anti-Hunger Action Committee and the Disabled Rights Action Committee on Friday in federal court.
It alleges that Utah Highway Patrol troopers and House security officers barred activists from passing out the fliers or buttons unless people asked for them. In one instance, authorities threatened to arrest two activists and confiscate leaflets if any more were passed out.
The organizations are asking for an injunction against the state from interfering with their rights and for unspecified monetary damages.
The groups are represented by attorney Brian Barnard, who earlier filed a similar lawsuit in behalf of Eric Waters and David Berg of the Utah Animal Rights Coalition, who said they were kept from distributing leaflets on the Capitol grounds during the session.
The state settled that lawsuit in April, agreeing to pay the men $1,000 each and paying Barnard $10,000 in legal fees. The state also agreed to pay UARC $500.
The Utah attorney general's office acknowledged Waters and Berg "have the legal right to engage in the free expression activity of tendering political leaflets, fliers, buttons or similar materials on the grounds and in public areas of the Utah State Capitol and related buildings."
Paul Murphy, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said the new lawsuit was "basically another bite of an apple that's already been bit. This lawsuit will not help anyone have a stronger voice in public policy."
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
