Lawsuit Against Orange County Trustee Ken Williams Dismissed After Road Rage Incident

Lawsuit Alleged Physical Altercation Between Ken Williams and Neighbor

A civil lawsuit accusing Orange County Board of Education trustee Ken Williams Jr. of choking and attacking his neighbor during a road rage incident in Mission Viejo has been dismissed. Court records confirm that the case, originally filed earlier this year, will not proceed further.

Details of the Road Rage Incident

The lawsuit centered around a March 2023 altercation involving Ken Williams and his then-20-year-old neighbor, Caden O’Malley. The complaint alleged that Williams, who represents District 3, threw O’Malley to the ground and put his hands around the young man's neck as their encounter escalated from a dispute on Mission Viejo’s El Toro Road.

The suit claimed that Williams “slammed on his breaks” while O’Malley was following him, after which O’Malley attempted to pass Williams’ Cadillac Escalade. The pair reportedly exchanged aggressive driving maneuvers before pulling their vehicles over, where a physical confrontation occurred. Both parties were cited for assault and battery, and O’Malley was transported to a nearby hospital.

Prosecutors Unable to Determine Primary Aggressor

The Orange County district attorney’s office reviewed the altercation at the time. Prosecutors stated they could not determine beyond a reasonable doubt who the primary aggressor was, and no criminal charges were filed against either party. Subsequently, O’Malley filed the civil suit in January 2024.

Civil Court Dismissal and Mutual Settlement Agreement

At the request of Caden O’Malley’s attorney, Robert Vannah, the suit was dismissed with prejudice in July. This type of civil court dismissal means that claims tied to the incident cannot be refiled in the future. Vannah declined to comment further on the case.

David E. Libman, attorney for Ken Williams, stated that both men maintained differing versions of how events unfolded. "Dr. Williams has always maintained that he was acting in self-defense," Libman said in a written statement. He explained that the parties reached a settlement in June 2026 involving a mutual release of claims with no money exchanged, leading to the civil court dismissal filed by O’Malley.

Ken Williams’ Tenure and Recent Reelection

Kenneth Williams Jr. was first elected to the Orange County Board of Education in 1996 and currently serves District 3. Despite the lawsuit and allegations, Williams faced a reelection campaign in March 2024 and was successfully reelected for another four-year term on the board of education.

Source: latimes.com.