Lawsuit Against 'Lunada Bay Boys' Proceeds

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CA — A motions hearing is scheduled Friday in a lawsuit by surfers Corey Spencer and Diana Milena Smoluchowska-Miernik against the Lunada Bay Boys, a local surfing group known for kicking non-locals out of their surfing territory, and the city of Palos Verdes Estates.

Spencer v. Mowat, the proposed class-action lawsuit alleges that the group has harassed and intimidated surfers not from the area, and the city of Palos Verdes Estates has not done enough to stop them.

An appeal from an LA Superior Court judgment alleges that the Lunada Bay Boys – a group of about 12 surfers who are said to disapprove of that name – prevented outsiders from surfing in the popular area that they consider their territory, through physical violence, threats of bodily harm, vandalism to vehicles and verbal harassment. The group is alleged to have built and maintained a rock fort to block access to the shoreline.

Surfers have described having their tires slashed, being pummeled by dirt, and more. The Bay Boys have allegedly been guarding the beach from outsiders for 40 years.

The Bay Boys, specifically defendants Charlie Mowat and Michael Thiel, include public nuisance, assault and battery, and conspiracy.

The complaint alleges that Palos Verdes Estates city officials did nothing to stop the group, and ignored the requests of the requests of the California Coastal Commission, another plaintiff, to make the beach more accessible to all.

In December 2015, Police Chief Jeff Kepley told the Los Angeles Times that he would add patrols to the coast. In Feb. 2016, a sting operation was planned but eventually canceled.

Palos Verdes Police have not responded for comment.