SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A California book signing business and its owner are suing the California attorney general, alleging violation of federal law.
Book Passage and Bill Petrocelli filed a complaint May 11 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Attorney General Xavier Becerra, alleging he approved a civil code that threatens the plaintiffs' business of selling autographed books.
According to the complaint, Book Passage and Petrocelli suffered monetary damages due to a newly amended law. The plaintiffs allege Becerra amended a law that violates the First Amendment, causing onerous compliance obligations and ruinous fines.
The plaintiffs seek to declare that California Civil Code 1739.7 infringes the freedom of speech, a permanent injunction against the defendant, attorney fees and court costs and all legal and equitable relief. They are represented by attorneys Joshua P. Thompson and Anastasia P. Boden of Pacific Legal Foundation in Sacramento, California.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Case number 4:17-cv-02723-JCS