ROYAL OAK, MI – A Royal Oak businessman is suing the town of Royal Oak, its mayor and zoning board chairman after being injured in a stampede match in August outside an Elks club in Royal Oak.

Greg Stanalajczo, who disagrees with Mayor Fournier on several items on the agenda, including the city’s decision to move the war memorial from Royal Oak, says city officials ” conspired to derail a private meeting “and assaulted him, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that city officials knowingly disrupted a Royal Oakers 4 liability and accountability meeting at Royal Oak Elks Lodge # 34 on August 7. RO4AR openly opposes the mayor’s plans to relocate the Royal Oak Veterans War Memorial.

City officials wore body cameras and claimed to film in their “official capacity” as City of Royal Oak officials, according to the lawsuit.

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Stanalajczo then allegedly saw Fournier and Zoning Board Chairman Clyde Esbri harass RO4AR member Erika Sykes while she was guarding the gate, according to the lawsuit.

When Stanalajczo told Fournier and Esbri that the meeting was private and members-only, Esbri then allegedly assaulted Stanalajczo. As Stanalajczo attempted to defend himself, Esbri allegedly punched Stanalajczo again by slamming him against the jam on the door and the wall, injuring his shoulder, which required surgery, according to the lawsuit.

“Apparently, Mayor Fournier and President Esbri had nothing better to do than set up a private meeting,” Stanalajczo lawyer Ven Johnson said. “They knew they shouldn’t be there, carried a body cam to record everything and announced their presence as city officials. They knew exactly what they were doing and that a physical alternation was likely to occur. produce.”

“Their despicable conduct was designed to intimidate these citizens into having opposing views about the government,” Johnson added. “The last time I checked, the First Amendment still applies to freedom of speech, the right to come together even to oppose the current government regime.”

Royal Oak City manager Paul J. Brake responded, “This is an allegation and we disagree with the qualification of the plaintiff’s lawyer. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against the charge against Mayor Fournier, Clyde Esbri and the Town of Royal Oak. “

The city then said it couldn’t elaborate further as this is an ongoing litigation.

The city’s decision to move the war from Royal Oak enraged several groups of veterans, leading to protests. Ultimately, an Oakland County Circuit Court judge ruled this summer that the location of the memorial would be decided by city voters. Fournier’s challenge for the mayor of Royal Oak is Tom Roth, who supports the relocation of the war memorial to its original location.