CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN DIEGO : Abortion Protesters Appeal Court Ruling

Six abortion protesters are appealing a jury verdict that upheld police use of martial arts nunchakus, which were wrapped around demonstrators’ wrists to cause pain and force them to move. In January, a federal court jury ruled against the protesters in their lawsuit against the police. The jury found that police followed a reasonable policy and did not use excessive force while arresting Operation Rescue demonstrators at an abortion clinic in 1989. The protesters had claimed that the devices caused injuries including a broken wrist and nerve damage. Lloyd Tooks, an attorney for the demonstrators, said an appeal notice was filed with the U.S. District Court of Appeals last month.