LOS ANGELES—A group of adult industry leaders announced today their intent to file a lawsuit soon against Los Angeles County over Measure B.
On November 6, voters of Los Angeles County passed Measure B, an ill-conceived law that makes it mandatory for adult actors to wear lab coats, goggles and gloves as well as condoms while shooting adult films in the County. The law was funded solely by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).
"The industry has organized a team of highly respected attorneys to protect our First Amendment rights," said Steven Hirsch, founder/co-Chairman of Vivid Entertainment. "I am confident that we will prevail and ultimately save LA County millions of dollars as well as save thousands of jobs. As an industry we are united in this effort and look forward to our day in court."
Industry attorneys Paul Cambria of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria; H. Louis Sirkin of Santen Hughes; and Bob Corn-Revere of Davis Wright Tremaine will represent the industry in the US District Court for the Central District of California.
The attorneys plan to challenge the law on the question of whether the County has jurisdiction to regulate adult production on performer health and safety, as these issues would typically fall under CalOSHA and thus State regulation. Additionally, the attorneys plan to challenge the law on constitutional grounds.
"This law will waste taxpayer dollars and compromise the effective performer health protocols already in place," said Diane Duke, CEO for the Free Speech Coalition, which is helping coordinate the litigation. "We are making a broad appeal for donations: to consumers, to protect the content they enjoy; to performers, to protect their right to perform without the absurd regulation that will require them to wear a virtual hazmat suit; to producers and directors who face jail time for any noncompliance of this ill-conceived law; and finally to anyone who opposes government overreach and government waste. AHF has threatened to replicate this effort nationwide—we have to stop them in their tracks."
Donations—100 percent of which will go to the litigation—can be sent to FSC-Measure B Litigation, PO Box 10480, Canoga Park, CA 91309 or donate online here.
The Free Speech Coalition is the national trade organization of the adult entertainment industry. Its mission is to lead, protect and support the growth and well-being of the adult entertainment community.
