A man who was wearing only his boxer shorts when he railed against the Boulder City Council at a public meeting in February has won a $10,000 settlement from the city, the man’s attorney said today.
Seth Brigham was arrested after he refused to leave the podium and hit with municipal charges of trespassing and obstructing police. Those charges were later dropped by the city.
Brigham’s lawyer — David Lane — said today that in exchange for not filing a civil suit against Boulder for violating his right to free speech, Boulder is writing a check for $10,000.
Brigham said he will pick up his portion of the settlement — $6,000 — today or Thursday.
Lane said Brigham showed up for the council meeting in just his boxers because he wanted to “communicate his concerns on a variety of political issues” including campaign contributions to council member Suzy Ageton, council member George Karakehian’s “open door policy” for his business on the Pearl Street Mall, and the city of Boulder’s recent focus on public nudity issues.
The Boulder council approved an ordinance prohibiting public nudity on April 6. The ordinance was adopted to give police an alternative to stricter public indecency and indecent exposure laws.
“Mr. Brigham’s speaking in only his boxers was largely symbolic, in order to assist in making his points,” Lane said in an e-mail.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
