Occupy LA Files Complaint to Stop Eviction

The battle over a patch of grass outside Los Angeles City Hall is about to involve lawyers. Granted a reprieve from eviction earlier this morning, Occupy LA organizers said today they would file a federal injunction to stop the city from removing protesters. In return, the city threatened to file not one, but three, declarations that oppose Occupy's restraining order, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In its legal argument, Occupy's complaint refers to previous exceptions the city has made to an anti-camping provision—like allowing about 500 "Twilight" fans to camp out "for several days to be first in line for the midnight showing of the first 'Twilight' sequel." It also says that the City Council passed a resolution approving the camp-out, and that aides to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa personally told Occupiers they could stay. (More Occupy Los Angeles stories.)