Opening salvo: JPMorgan Chase sued over OWS actions

Four New York City Council members sued the city today over the handling of Occupy Wall Street protestors, claiming the police used excessive force and should be subject to an outside monitor. The city and the Police Department made false arrests and violated the free-speech rights of protestors and journalists last year, 15 people including the council members said today in a complaint in Manhattan federal court. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), Brookfield Office Properties and Mayor Michael Bloomberg are among the defendants. The Occupy movement in New York has held demonstrations and marches around the city since Nov. 15, when police ousted hundreds of protesters from Zuccotti Park near Wall Street, where they had camped since Sept. 17. Protestors spread an anti-greed message, calling attention to what they call abuses of power and wealth. “Through unlawful exercises of public power and misapplication of law, the NYPD has sought to prevent and has prevented plaintiffs and other citizens from exercising certain constitutional rights, including the right to public assembly and expressive speech,” according to the complaint. The City Council members are Jumaane Williams, Letitia James, Ydanis Rodriguez and Melissa Mark-Viverito. The council has 51 members. Bloomberg, the mayor, is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP. Kate Ahlers, a spokeswoman for the city Law Department, had no immediate comment on the complaint. Jennifer Zuccarelli, a spokeswoman for JPMorgan Chase, declined to comment in an e- mail. Occupy Wall Street demonstrators plan marches around the globe tomorrow, saying they hope the coordinated events will mark a spring resurgence of the movement after a quiet winter. --Bloomberg News--