Grocery store chain Albertsons LLC filed a civil complaint in SLO County Superior Court, claiming that individuals standing outside its Paso Robles location to gather signatures are creating a nuisance for shoppers.
The complaint, filed on Jan. 9, claims that several unknown individuals were trespassing on the premises of the Paso Robles location, as well as other locations in California, trying to obtain signatures for petitions from customers.
“Defendants have entered the premises without permission and have refused to leave when asked to do so by store personnel,” the complaint stated. “Albertsons has not given consent to the defendants’ presence or conduct at the store. An ordinary person would be disturbed by defendants’ conduct.”
The complaint contains a single photo of one of the alleged signature gatherers, but does not identify him. The lawsuit also does not state what kind of petition the individuals were seeking signatures for. Albertsons’ director of public affairs, Jenna Watkinson, said the company’s solicitation policy prohibits petitioning regardless of the substance of the petition itself.
“It doesn’t matter what the petition is for,” she said. “The company remains neutral on the petition’s content, but political activity is not allowed in front of our stores.”
The complaint asks the court for a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions prohibiting the yet-to-be identified petitioners from soliciting signatures at its stores, including but not limited to the Paso Robles location.
“Our priority is our customers, and we’ve had too many customers harassed over the years,” Watkinson said.
With the 2018 elections just around the corner, California residents are likely to encounter petitioners seeking signatures to get various measures placed on the ballot. The issue was the subject of a recent alert by the SLO County’s League of Women Voters, who urged voters to be cautious when asked to sign ballot measure petitions.
“Remember your signature is valuable, perhaps even more valuable than your vote,” the notice stated. “Why? Because far fewer signatures are required to qualify a measure for the ballot than votes needed to pass it once it’s on the ballot.”
According to the California secretary of state’s website, current petitions are circulating for potential ballot measures to repeal the recently approved gas tax increase, regulate the state’s kidney dialysis clinics, and place limits on resources that California law enforcement agencies can use to assist federal officials with immigration enforcement activities, among others.
This article appears in Jan 18-28, 2018.
Have you ever heard of the 1st amendment. These individuals are not trespassing. They are not on private property. They’re within there constitutional rights. Vons and Albertsons are the ones violating the law. Anyone gathering signatures or registrating people to vote. Are within there constitutional rights. They do not need permission. The 1st amendment supersedes any policy that Vons or Albertsons might have. Also Constituents have a right to be informed and have the ability to sign petitions. Referrendums or register to vote. If Vons. Albertsons. Or any other business tries to stop . interfere. Or impede. Such constitutionally protected act. Then they are in violation of the law. And any party involved. Such as managers. SECURITY. Vons and Albertsons. Themselves. Then become legally liable. Stop F*CKING with my rights
Unfortunately there a few petitioners like Gary Robinson that screw things up. Like any business there are bad apples. The individuals you have pictures of are bad apples and do not reflect the petition industry itself.
God Bless America, let the man make a living
laugh out loud Albertsons is not over the Constitution referred to r 602.1 second C whoever wrote this article it’s only getting one half of the story.. the police department had a ride with these people on site said they had every right to be there Albertsons. Telling you that they can file what they want but until then the Constitution is over any Albertsons or Vons The Man Franks try to intimidate petitioners from working there which clearly allows the petitioner be on private property for political activities
Really would you want to shop at a store that doesn’t honor your First Amendment right Albertsons has been trying to intimidate petitioners for Years also vons. If that was the case the police officer would remove petitioners so until they get an injunction the Constitution overrules all God Bless America
And here’s the mister freedom of speech since you know my name ..come out with yours. I’ll be glad to discuss it with you until then you’re hiding behind text.. let me know I’ll be discuss it with you in person
Really is this guy a lawyer.. has he not read the Constitution.. how can I be trespassing when the Constitution allows you to be there. I guess it doesn’t take much to be a lawyer these days. Do you think the police would not remove us if we can’t be there. We have petitioners are tired of being. Intimidated.. we don’t break the law we abide by the law
So I will be in court once a serve me.. I want petition that’s going to show up and after that turn around and Sue Albertsons and vons.. there’s been many court cases throughout the years that give us a right to petition in front of stores.. a lot of pictures Spinners don’t show up but I got a lawyer to so bring it