Ex-Beverly Hills Unified Trustee Sues Neighbor Over 2015 Arrest

The former president of the Beverly Hills Unified School District board filed suit Monday against the city, a neighbor who accused him of pushing her to the ground last year and two other people.

Brian Goldberg, 43, stepped down after his arrest in March 2015 after the incident involving Nahal Yashar, who is also a defendant in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit.

The suit additionally names as defendants Danny Yashar and Fariba Lavian, alleging they conspired with Nahal Yashar to conduct a wrongful arrest and imprisonment of Goldberg by Beverly Hills police without a warrant or probable cause.

The suit does not explain the relationship between Nahal Yashar and the other two individual defendants. Gregory W. Smith, one of the attorneys representing Goldberg, said he was unsure of the relationship between the trio because another lawyer drafted the case.

The suit alleges false imprisonment, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Goldberg seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages against the three individual defendants.

A spokeswoman for the city's Office of Communications said she would check to see if the city has a response to the lawsuit.

Goldberg was arrested after officers went to the condominium building in the 200 block of Tower Drive in southeast Beverly Hills about 7:45 p.m. on March 9, 2015, Beverly Hills police Lt. Lincoln Hoshino said previously.

Goldberg spent the night in custody for allegedly pushing Nahal Yashar to the ground after she accused him of "unsafe driving" in the garage of their condominium building, Hoshino said.

The victim alleged that Goldberg shoved her while in the elevator, causing her head to strike the interior of the elevator, Hoshino said. After the elevator door had opened, Goldberg allegedly shoved her a second time, knocking her to the ground, Hoshino said.

Goldberg, who was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, was issued a citation and released, according to police. Smith said today that no criminal charges were filed against Goldberg.

Goldberg said previously that he was driving "a little too fast" in the parking garage when the woman confronted him over his driving.

Trying to avoid speaking to her, Goldberg said he "disengaged" and slipped into an elevator. He claimed the woman stopped the elevator from moving, and refused to allow him to leave, so he bumped into her as he exited.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock