Gilroy dismissed from Halloween party lawsuit

By Staff Reports

The Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara recently sustained the city of Gilroy’s demurrer in the case of Petra Macias and Jerimiah Macias v. City of Gilroy, Rebeca Armendariz, Augustina Armendariz, Benjamin Calderon, Domingo Armendariz, TES Investments, LLC, Ameriland Real Estate Inc., Ameriland Real Estate Services, Jose Adame, and Silvia Ibarra. This litigation resulted from the 2021 Halloween Party held at 490 Las Animas in Gilroy.

The plaintiffs did not contest the sustained demurrer, and it is now an order of the court. Subsequent to the order, the Macias plaintiffs agreed to dismiss the city of Gilroy from the lawsuit.

The city of Gilroy was dismissed Nov. 20, 2023, from the related Sanchez litigation that resulted from the same incident.

The city of Gilroy expended about $49,000 to defend the litigation and $70,000 on the internal investigation.

The other defendants have been dismissed from both cases following insurance settlements with the plaintiffs.

“We may now put this litigation behind us as the city of Gilroy was not involved in the private Halloween party that gave rise to the litigation, as confirmed by the court,” said Mayor Marie Blankley. “Sadly, two individuals lost their lives, and two additional individuals were injured as a result of violence that occurred at the party. As we approach the third anniversary of the incident, we hope for continued healing for the families and the community.”