Kidnapped woman whose claim dismissed as hoax seeks damages

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California woman is seeking unspecified monetary damages from a city where police initially dismissed her kidnapping as a hoax.

Attorneys for Denise Huskins and her boyfriend Aaron Quinn filed a claim Thursday against the city of Vallejo.

The claim could lead to a lawsuit if it is rejected by the city.

Quinn reported to police on March 23 that kidnappers broke into the couple's home while they slept, drugged them, abducted Huskins and demanded money.

Huskins turned up safe two days later in her hometown of Huntington Beach hours before the ransom was due.

Vallejo police said after Huskins reappeared that the kidnapping was a hoax.

In July, federal investigators named disbarred attorney Matthew Muller as a suspect in the abduction. He has been charged with kidnapping in federal court in Sacramento. His attorney didn't return a phone call.