Sex offenders launch series of lawsuits challenging residency restrictions. The California Supreme Court decided residency restrictions for some sex offenders violate the federal constitution. Arcadia's restrictions place more than 90% of Arcadia's residential property in exclusion zones that effectively banish registered sex offenders. Janice Bellucci says the law in Arcadia violates the 5th and 14th amendments and the Ex Post Facto Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
A class action lawsuit filed against the city of Arcadia and Extended Stay Hotels claims the city "improperly levied a daily room tax" on guests staying beyond 30 days and violated state and local law.
Dajin Tang, 52, employee of Arcadia-based Millennium Trucking Company filed a negligence lawsuit against his employer and his supervisor Xu Chen. Tang was involved in a crash near Rockwood, Tennessee. The suit alleges his employer forced him to wait a week to get medical care, after he was seriously hurt.
Maria C. Martinez, a former employee of a Rite-Aid store in Arcadia, was awarded $3.4 million by a jury, which found she was discriminated against because of a medical disability and for complaining that a company manager sexually harassed her.
Priyanka Patel, 17, of Upland, was seriously injured and her friend, Alice Zhang, 16, of Arcadia, was killed, when they were hit by a car driven by Bowen Du, in the crosswalk in the 600 block of West Duarte Road. Patel is suing the City of Arcadia and the driver, citing negligence and dangerous conditions. She is suing for more than $25,000 in damages. The teen has incurred nearly $200,000 in medical expenses so far.
John Wuo resigns from Arcadia City Council, "due to personal and health reasons." City and residents settle "Save the Arcadia Highlands" lawsuit, which highlighted the issue of mansionization. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch announced the terms of the settlement, which include these key highlights: 1) Bowden Development must submit a revised design for the 1600 Highland Oaks Drive home that will not exceed 5800 sq. ft. and is a single-story house. 2) The revised plan for 29 E. Orange Grove Avenue from Mur-Sol Construction must not exceed 5775 sq. ft. with a single story that won't exceed 17 feet, 6 inches. 3) The council will approve or disapprove the revised plans. 4) The developers must pay Save the Highlands' attorney fees. 5) The council will vote on resuming the residential zoning update and the Highlands portion of the historical survey at its next public meeting.
Arcadia settles building project lawsuit, paves the way to update residential zoning code and including Highland Oaks neighborhood in a citywide historic preservation survey.
Arcadia venue Knockouts Gentlemen’s Club is being sued for copyright infringement by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), for the unauthorized public performance of its members’ copyrighted musical works.
Experts say city violated Brown Act meeting law. Arcadia City Council made three housing policy decisions in closed session without public input. At the meeting last week, officials voted to shelve a comprehensive update to city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, sans the Highlands Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said the decisions came as a result of a lawsuit filed against the city targeting mansionization.
Peacock Donuts on Duarte Road is being sued by plaintiff John Ho in regards to its handicap accessibility. While the Peacock Donut shop has 3 clearly marked handicapped spots, the lawsuit alleges that the rear access is not accessible to those in wheelchairs. John Ho has filed hundreds of such suits. Robert Chen, owner of the shop and Alan Wilson, owner of the building, are being sued.
Mary Chiu sued nursing home Arcadia Health Care Center for the negligent care that her mother Sui Mee Chiu received. In October 2013, an arbitrator ruled that Sui Mee Chiu had been a victim of elder abuse, negligence and wrongful death, and her daughter Mary Chiu was awarded more than half a million dollars. The investigation is still in progress and Public Health is inquiring into the cause of the delay in the final report and closure of this case.
Yongjian "Richard" Zhang and Ruixia "Nancy" Zhang, the parents of Alice Zhang, have filed a lawsuit against the City of Arcadia and the driver who struck and killed Alice. The lawsuit, filed in August, alleges that "the dangerous condition" of the crosswalk on the 600 block of West Duarte Road was a significant factor in Alice's death. The Zhangs are asking for unspecified general and special damages. The complaint also alleges that driver Bowen Du's negligence was a "substantial factor" in the teen's death.
An activist group called Save the Arcadia Highlands is suing the City of Arcadia over two residential developments that Arcadia City Council approved in February, citing possible violations to "specific provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Planning and Zoning Law, filed March 12. The addresses involved are 29 East Orange Grove Avenue and 1600 Highland Oaks Drive. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, March 19, 2015.
PETA and City of Arcadia reach deal over coyote plan. Group had sued after city planned to start trap-and-kill program. Arcadia will pay $15,000 to settle the lawsuit that contended the city council approved the contract without an environmental report mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 10, July 6, 2017.
Arcadia resident David Arvizu to challenge city on open meeting law. His letter gives city officials 30 days to respond to alleged open meeting law violations before he files a complaint with the D.A. or a lawsuit against the city. He offered two alternatives to litigation: the Council would either set aside the decisions made in closed session on May 5, or make the meeting minutes available to the public. In a closed session May 5, City Council voted to suspend comprehensive updates to the city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, excluding the Highland Oaks Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said officials did not violate the Ralph M. Brown Act when they voted on three "procedural" items in closed session because they were tied to pending litigation against the city.
Four Chinese investors are plaintiffs suing San Gabriel consulting firm California Investment Immigration Fund. Plaintiffs believed they were investing $500,000 in U.S. businesses in return for green cards. FBI allege the scheme was fraud and raided the firm and homes of lawyer Victoria Chan, her father Tat Chan, his wife Zheng Chan, in April.