Legal Complaint Filed Over Chau Campaign Mailer

Updated at 5:30 p.m. on 10/29 with a quote from Lin spokeswoman Miryam Mora.

The wife of 49th Assembly District candidate Dr. Matthew Lin has filed a legal complaint against Ed Chau's campaign for distributing campaign mailers displaying her full name, home address and social security number.

The four mailers released Oct. 18 featured copies of out-of-date tax liens alongside claims Joy and Matthew Lin neglected to pay county and state taxes. The mailers also had aerial photos of the couple's home, describing it as a "San Marino mansion with tennis courts and a pool."

According to the 9-page complaint filed Friday with the Los Angeles Superior Court, one of the tax liens featured on the flyer displayed only Joy Lin's name and social security number, with "nothing on the face of that document showing any connection Dr. (Matthew) Lin."

Also, the liens in questions were erroneous and had been released several years ago. 

"Ed Chau distorted the facts," Lin campaign spokeswoman Miryam Mora said."In fact, the government sent Mrs. Lin a notice saying they erroneously filed a lien against her. Ed Chau knew this."

By distributing the flyers, the Chau campaign had "invaded  (Joy Lin's) right to privacy as to her personal and financial affairs and as to her social security number," the complaint read. Furthermore, "These flyers and their contents placed (Joy Lin) in a false light in the eyes of the public which is objectionable to a reasonable person."

The Chau campaign reportedly ignored repeated requests from Lin's legal team to stop disseminating the flyers.

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"I personally knew that when I decided to run for office, it would be difficult on our family and that there would be misleading information about me, but never did I foresee having my opponent, attack my wife personally and potentially subject her to identify theft and credit fraud,” Matthew Lin said a media statement.  “My name is on the ballot and I am the one running for office, not my wife, the actions taken by Ed Chau seem low, even for a trial lawyer.”

Despite multiple attempts, Chau's campaign could not be reached for comment.

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