Bridge district sues daredevil climbers

Young Wisconsinites are accused of exploiting landmark with video

Two thrill-seekers who enjoyed a moment of Internet fame this spring when they scaled the Golden Gate Bridge’s 746-foot north tower and then released footage of themselves performing death-defying stunts atop the iconic span are being sued by the bridge authority. The Golden Gate Bridge district’s lawsuit in Marin County Superior Court alleges that Peter “Teatime” Kurer, 18, and Thomas Rector, who is in his 20s, not only trespassed and created a safety nuisance but sought to enrich themselves by filming their escapade and sharing it on social media.

The suit, filed last week, seeks to ban the two Wisconsin residents from the bridge for any purpose other than traveling between San Francisco and Marin County. The district is also asking for unspecified damages and legal costs.

Bridge officials said Friday that the men put “personal profit and gain” ahead of common sense and safety and that the district was compelled to act.

“We take security very seriously at the Golden Gate Bridge and those who break the rules will face consequences,” said Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Deputy General Manager Steve Miller in an email to The Chronicle.

The climbers made their much-hyped ascent one night during their spring break in April. They used no climbing gear, just their hands and legs to hoist themselves up the bridge’s steel suspension ropes and main cable to high above passing traffic and the chilly bay water below.

Once they reached the top of the north tower, the men performed a series of stunts for the camera, twirling somersaults on a narrow walkway and hanging recklessly off the top of the bridge.

The footage, posted May 7 to YouTube, remained online Friday with more than 140,000 views. Kurer also posted the video on his Facebook page, where it clearly identifies him and Rector as the climbers.

The two did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. But in a prior interview with The Chronicle, they said they did nothing wrong.

“There’s no reason to treat us like criminals. We’re not criminals, just a couple of kids from Wisconsin who like to climb things,” said Rector, who works at a gym outside Milwaukee.

The men said they don’t want to inspire copycats, describing themselves as experienced climbers who have scaled skyscrapers, cell towers and other tall things.

But bridge officials said the men should have known better when they climbed over at least one fence in the Marin Headlands and disregarded a “No Trespassing” sign before mounting the bridge about 3 a.m. April 11.

The suit claims that the two intentionally dodged security cameras, allowing their actions to go undetected — at least until they posted footage weeks later.

“A minor misstep, slip or mistake would have resulted in one or both of them falling hundreds of feet to their death,” the lawsuit reads. “This, in turn, threatened the lives and safety of plaintiff ’s employees and other members of the general public below.”

The suit claims the pair licensed and sold the video of their climb, which they were not authorized to do.

“Teatime and his associate Rector senselessly put the lives of themselves and others in serious jeopardy to exploit the San Francisco Bay Area’s most iconic landmark for their own publicity, expand their own Internet and social media presence and achieve fame and, relatedly, monetary profit,” the suit reads.

The civil action, filed Aug. 2, alleges unjust enrichment, unfair business practices and unfair competition as well as trespass and public nuisance.

The California Highway Patrol is pursuing a separate criminal investigation of the ascent. Climbing the Golden Gate Bridge can be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.