A 2-year-old legal battle between the city of Arcadia and Taboo Gentlemen's Club, a strip club, will most likely result in the club being closed or sold off by April, 2009. The federal court case started when the city revoked Taboo Gentlemen's Club's business license for breaking the city's adult business codes. The club's owners Bill Badi Gammoh and Chawkat Jajieh sued in response, claiming city and police had obstructed business and violated their civil rights. The city's adult business ordinance prohibits lap dances, sexual contact, private dance booths and direct tipping. It requires licensed dancers to perform on an elevated stage.
A 22-year-old El Monte man, Daniel Sisneros, is suing the owner and an employee of AM Donuts at 34 E. Las Tunas Drive. He was left partially paralyzed after being shot at AM Donuts. He was pressing buttons on the cash register but not robbing the store.
A $30 million plan to provide standardized breathing equipment for every fire department in Los Angeles County has been suspended after a lawsuit alleged the contract process was mishandled and firefighters complained about the quality of the equipment. Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment is suing the city and county of Los Angeles, contending the contract process was improperly handled in a manner that ignored firefighter input and unfairly favored the winning bidder, L.N. Curtis and sons.
An adult cabaret, its owners and ten dancers, have filed a civil complaint suit against the city of Arcadia, stemming from an investigation by police into code compliance.
Another lawsuit has been filed against Hooters restaurant chain and a former manager, Juan Aponte. Seanna Mitchell of Covina alleges sexual harassment, invasion of privacy and negligent supervision.
Arcadia Mayor Dr. Sheng Chang said he plans to sue two business partners for libel over their charges that he embezzled money from the Access IPA medical group. Dr. Araceli Chanbonpin and Dr. Azucena Porrai charged in a letter that Chang improperly closed a savings account in the company's name at Bank of East Asia. The amount in the account was $421,483.59. Chang, who is president of Access IPA, said he moved the funds to Preferred Bank to establish more banking relationships for the company. When the other two doctors objected, Chang said he moved the money back to the Bank of East Asia.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital has been accused of dumping homeless patients on Los Angeles' Skid Row. A hospital representative said it is compliant with the anti-dumping law, Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, and has done nothing illegal. The two alleged dumping incidents involve homeless patients Hector Salazar and Therese LaBossiere.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital has filed 2 lawsuits against Anthem Blue Cross, one in Superior Court and one in federal court, alleging the insurer underpays for emergency room visits by Blue Cross members.
Arcadia Ultimate Automotive has been served with a lawsuit from Trevor Law Group accusing the shop of operating without a license. The law firm based in Beverly Hills is filing frivolous suits with mainly small, minority-owned businesses especially automobile repair shops that lack resources to have a legal battle but will settle instead.
Arcadia will join a coalition of 39 other cities in suing the federal and state governments over a new program regulating storm water runoff from local streets. The federal and state program requires cities to reduce trash runoff by 10 percent a year, until it reaches zero, or pay a fine.
Attorney Michael Oddenino is seeking $3 million from the Arcadia Unified School District on behalf of his daughter who was yelled at by her coach Don Riggio. Oddenino is suing for assault, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, a civil rights violation and sex discrimination.
Caruso Affiliated's proposed mall, The Shops at Santa Anita, may be hit with a second lawsuit. Anti-development group Arcadia First! said it will sue on the grounds that the environmental impacts of the project have not been fully addressed. The suit will make a ballot referendum unnecessary.
City of Arcadia lost its lawsuit against the county to establish a redevelopment area in South Arcadia. The county determined the area did not fit legal definition of a blighted area.
A class action lawsuit is allegedly underway against Safeway Inc. The claim is that a store manager at one of their locations was peeping at women in the restroom. Carpenters Local 409 also claim Vons has been negligent in paying standard wages to carpenters.
A court hearing today will provide clarification on Judge James Chalfant's July ruling that stopped progress on an upscale mall proposed by developer Rick Caruso at the Santa Anita Park parking lot. The proposed mall is known as the Shops at Santa Anita. In July, Judge Chalfant ruled that the environmental impact report (EIR) that Arcadia officials relied upon in approving the mall was faulty in 11 areas and would have to be revised before the project can move forward. Chalfant could modify his ruling today, or allow the existing ruling to become final judgment.
Deanna Sprinkel, who was grievously injured by a tram while visiting the Los Angeles County Arboretum, seeks a multi-million dollar payout in damages from the County.
The family of John Chan has sued the City of Arcadia, three of its police officers, and Lisa Welchert, the driver of the car that killed Chan last February 9.
The family of sheriff's Deputy Hagop "Jake" Kuredjian settled a wrongful-death suit against former Arcadia police officer James Allen Beck who shot Kuredjian while he was helping serve a search warrant.
Fast Cash, a payday loan company with offices in Arcadia and Eagle Rock, faces allegations of deceptive business practices and fraud in a complaint filed by the California Attorney General's office.
The FBI will settle a lawsuit brought by Josh Connole for $100,000. He was wrongly jailed for the SUV (sport utility vehicle) arson attacks in the San Gabriel Valley, including a dealership in Arcadia, in August 2003.