MyNewsLA reported Sept. 1, 2026, that Nick Stern sued the city of Los Angeles and LAPD Officer Wyatt Aulick in Los Angeles federal court. According to MyNewsLA's account of the lawsuit, Stern alleges Aulick advanced toward him and swung a baton across his face while Stern was covering an August 2025 protest in downtown Los Angeles.
What the lawsuit alleges
MyNewsLA reported that Stern says he showed his press credential and identified himself as working press before the alleged strike. MyNewsLA also reported that the complaint alleges claims tied to excessive force, civil rights violations, assault and battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, the First and Fourteenth Amendments, and California's Bane Act.
According to MyNewsLA, an LAPD spokesperson said the department could not comment on the litigation at that time. MyNewsLA also reported that Stern's attorney, V. James DeSimone, said Stern had been doing his job and had identified himself as press.
How the prior court order fits in
USA TODAY reported in 2025 that U.S. District Judge Hernan D. Vera issued preliminary injunctions in lawsuits involving the LAPD and federal officers over journalists' treatment during Los Angeles protests. USA TODAY reported that Vera had issued a July 10 temporary restraining order in the LAPD case barring officers from using less lethal munitions against journalists who were not threatening law enforcement.
The First Amendment Coalition said in a 2025 release that the court granted the Los Angeles Press Club and Status Coup's request for a preliminary injunction against the city. The group said the order protected journalists covering protests from being dispersed or shot at with less lethal munitions by LAPD.
Sources
| Source | What it reported | Date |
|---|---|---|
| MyNewsLA | Stern's lawsuit, named defendants, alleged baton strike, LAPD response, and claims listed in the complaint | Sept. 1, 2026 |
| USA TODAY | Earlier federal injunctions and the July 10 temporary restraining order in press access litigation | Sept. 15, 2025 |
| First Amendment Coalition | Preliminary injunction details and links to case documents in Los Angeles Press Club v. City of Los Angeles | Sept. 11, 2025 |
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