Developer of proposed Imperial Valley AI Data Center sues activist, environmental nonprofit, and its director for defamation and “Greenmail”x
News ClipThe Desert Review·El Centro, Imperial County, CA·4/3/2026
Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC and its managing member, Sebastian Rucci, have filed a lawsuit against an activist, an environmental justice nonprofit, and its director for defamation and "Greenmail." The suit alleges a campaign to derail their proposed hyperscale AI data center in Imperial County, despite its ministerial approvals. The plaintiffs seek over $1 million in damages and injunctive relief.
legaloppositionenvironmentalzoning
Gov: Imperial County Superior Court, Imperial County, City of Imperial
Sebastian Rucci, managing member of Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC (IVCM), has filed a lawsuit in Imperial County Superior Court against local activist Jake Tison, the environmental justice nonprofit Comité Cívico del Valle, and its executive director José Luis Olmedo Velez (Luis Olmedo).
The developer accuses the defendants of orchestrating a defamatory social media campaign to derail IVCM's proposed hyperscale AI data center in unincorporated Imperial County and to extract a