Government Claim Required.

Plaintiffs brought an action against a city for alleged tortuous conduct by a former member of the City Council. While a real estate project was making its way through the City’s approval process, the City’s mayor allegedly “extracted” $38,000 from plaintiff in loans and refused to repay her and then prevented approval of plaintiff’s project and threatened to kill her. Plaintiff also alleged the Mayor retaliated because she would not give him additional funds and rejected his sexual overtures. The trial court granted the City’s demurrer and motion to strike. On appeal, plaintiff contended her claims did not require a government claim. The appellate court affirmed, finding plaintiff’s claims for fraud, extortion, assault & battery and IIED were subject to the Government Tort Claims Act. (Gong v. City of Rosemead (Cal. App. Second, Div. 5; May 20, 2014)226 Cal.App.4th 363.)