AIDS Foundation Sues County Over Condom Vote

In News by AHF

North Hollywood Toluca Lake Patch

Group alleges false claims, retaliation and defamation.

A global AIDS foundation sued Los Angeles County Wednesday over what it alleges are false claims, retaliation and defamation stemming from, among other things, the health group’s support of Measure B, which requires adult film actors to wear condoms.

Many adult film studios are located in Chatsworth.

According to the complaint, filed in Los Angeles federal court, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s recent activism as the primary backer of the measure, which was approved by voters last month, generated strong opposition in county offices because the county does not want to use its funds to enforce the law.

A call for comment to county attorneys was not immediately returned.

The lawsuit contends county officials conspired to “fabricate an audit, demand millions of dollars from AHF, and then flaunt these false audit findings in front of other providers and the public at large in an effort to intimidate providers into submission.”

The foundation claims the alleged actions “have injured AHF and its mission, and in turn, the public at large.”

AHF asserts this animus was likely the result of the foundation suing the Department of Public Health in July 2009 seeking an order forcing the county to comply with its own Health and Safety Codes related to condom use and worker safety in the adult film industry.

In its complaint, AHF asserts that rather than using its funding to accomplish its health-care goals, the health department and others “have indulged in the gross misuse of resources, waste of public funds, favoritism, professional back-scratching and retaliation against those that hold them accountable for doing their jobs.”

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