South Bay Echo for Dec 9
South Bay Echo for Dec 9
"Sham" lawsuit goes to state Supreme Court, Ridley-Thomas' true motivation, King Harbor boat parade and Manhattan Beach fireworks this weekend
Welcome to the 44th edition of South Bay Echo, your source of local hometown news with a real estate angle.
This Substack is brought to you by Rosetree Real Estate, a full service real estate brokerage dealing in residential and commercial properties to both own and lease. For more information visit RosetreeRealEstate.com. DRE# 02145024
Redondo court case reaches State Supreme Court
This week lawyers representing Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand and Councilman Nils Nehrenheim argued a case before the California Supreme Court in attempt to recover legal fees for a frivolous lawsuit brought against them.
The case stems from another dispute over the Redondo Beach waterfront in which two local citizens — Chris Voisey and Arnette Travis — sued Rescue Our Waterfront because they allegedly filed their paperwork to be a political action committee incorrectly and Brand and Nehrenheim because they allegedly colluded with the PAC. The only problem was the Fair Political Practices Committee already looked at the matter and dismissed it.
But Travis and Voisey went ahead with their lawsuit anyway because they had nothing to lose. After all, as it was revealed during the trial, they were not paying the legal bills for the case. Those bills were paid by developer Fred Bruning and partner John Paul Wardy with CenterCal Properties.
And what did they seek to accomplish through the case? Simply put, they wanted the committee to correct its paperwork, which it already did anyway. And then they wanted attorney fees. So basically they just wanted to bilk Brand, Nehrenheim and others for costly lawyer bills. Then things went south.
After hearing the merits of the case, the trial court called the lawsuit a “sham,” the plaintiffs “shills” for the developer, and the lawsuit “frivolous, unreasonable and without foundation.” He then awarded attorney fees to the prevailing party.
But the lawyers for Travis and Voisey didn’t want to pay it and they’ve argued all the way to the state Supreme Court in an attempt to weasel their way out of taking their own medicine. Meanwhile, those fees just grow and grow, likely up to about $1 million now.
It’s not clear whether Bruning and company will ever be on the hook regardless of what the Supreme Court decides. Voisey is said to be in danger of losing his house. Lawyers for the group successfully argued at the appeals level to have Bruning and Wardy removed as non-party appellants, which the trial judge had imposed after learning the truth behind the case.
The love might not be totally lost, however. Bruning donated $950 to Voisey’s unsuccessful campaign against Brand for mayor. And a nearly $6,000 loan was paid by an anonymous donor, which many suspect is Bruning, based on Voisey’s campaign forms.
If you want to read the briefs in the case click here.
Mark Ridley Thomas gets pay, benefits restored
Showing for everyone what’s truly important, disgraced LA City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas fought successfully to have his pay and benefits restored this week despite having been suspended more than 14 months ago.
The longtime Los Angeles politician who was termed out of the County Board of Supervisors was indicted on corruption charges stemming from a kickback he received for his son to attend USC.
In September, former dean of the USC school of social work Marilyn Louise Flynn pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge connected to the case. She admitted she funneled $100,000 through the university on behalf of then-County Supervisor Ridley-Thomas in an effort to win a contract for social services.
While Ridley-Thomas awaits trial, he will now receive his $265,000 salary, while an additional $99,500 will go to his legal team. Meanwhile, the city is already paying the salary for his replacement.
If Ridley-Thomas truly cared about the people he supposedly served, if he was really in politics to benefit others and not himself, he would give up the salary and resign. At this point, his motivations are perfectly clear.
King Harbor boat parade Saturday
This Saturday, Dec. 10, the King Harbor Marina boat parade takes place. A seasonal classic, this is quintessential beach culture. We might not have snow, but we got a lot of water. Come out and watch the show from Moonstone Park for the best viewing starting at 5:30 p.m.
For more visit KingHarborBoatParade.org
Skechers Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks Sunday
Also this weekend, on Sunday Dec. 11, is the Manhattan Beach Skechers Holiday Fireworks show. They will have a snow park, Santa float and the dixieland band Hyperion Outfall Serenaders all beginning at 3 p.m. Fireworks light off at 7 p.m.
More at MBFireworks.com.
All for now… Thanks for reading.
Also worth mentioning that CenterCal’s corporate lawyer argued Wednesday on behalf of Travis & Voisey. I figure the only reason she would do so is because there must be some as-yet-publicly-undisclosed enforceable agreement with Travis & Voisey which puts CenterCal on the hook for payment, so she’s really arguing for her corporate client. I could be wrong. If there was no such agreement, then Travis & Voisey well and truly put themselves and their families, as well as the winning parties and their families, into serious financial damage, all to benefit a shopping center developer whose sloppy attempt to put a shopping center in a harbor was rejected by everyone except the since unelected former Mayor and his now-minority Council allies.