PLEASURE POINT >> Glenn Harper, the Soquel surfer who was impaled by rebar at Pleasure Point in October, has sued the County of Santa Cruz, a Watsonville engineering firm, the California Coastal Commission and the State Lands Commission for $10 million.

Harper, a 54-year-old lifelong surfer, was entering the surf with a longboard at Pleasure Point during a high tide on Oct. 19. He went down the staircase at the top of the point and turned west to another set of steps built into the seawall. Waves pushed him off balance, and as he reached out to the wall, he pierced his hand on a piece of exposed rebar, he said.

As he tried to free himself, he ripped up his other hand, which required about 50 stitches. A 35-year-old former EMT happened to be heading out to surf when he spotted Harper. He and a friend unwrapped Harper’s surf leash, which was tangled, and helped him to safety.

Harper, a father of two, has had several surgeries.

“Right now, he can’t grip. He can’t extend his hand,” said Richard Alexander, Harper’s attorney. His Alexander Law Group has offices in San Jose and San Francisco. “He suffered a major lifetime injury. The spikes were a trap that easily could have been made safe.”

Harper was flown by helicopter to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center the day of the accident. Alexander said Harper’s full medical bills have not yet been calculated.

Alexander said his clients initially seek $10 million in lawsuits although that may not be the final sum that is sought.

The suit names Iceplant LLC and the engineering firm it hired to design and build the seawall, Haro Kasunich and Associates Inc. of Watsonville. Alexander said he believes the State Lands Commission is responsible for the land as it manages “tidelands” and areas that reach high tide marks. The Coastal Commission also bears responsibility, he said.

The civil complaint was filed in Santa Cruz County on April 1. Attorneys for the defendants have denied the claim although they have not yet responded in writing, Alexander said. No court dates have been set.

Jason Hoppin, a spokesman for the county, said Friday that he sympathized with Harper and his injuries.

“We’ve just received a copy of this complaint and we are still reviewing it,” Hoppin said.

Days after Harper’s injuries, residents cut off the exposed rebar on the seawall with power tools. Since then, wave action appears to have exposed more rebar near the same spot. Alexander’s photos from February show more exposed spots along the seawall west of the staircase at the top of the point.

An $8.7 million seawall reinforcement project was completed there in 2011. Alexander said he believes many surfers walked by the exposed rebar and said nothing. He said that by state law, the parties named in the suit should have fixed it.

“Whenever it is foreseeable that someone might be injured, you have a responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen,” Alexander said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify language in the lawsuit.