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North Park Jack in the Box court case surprise
"I am not going to subject my clients to abusive depositions by Mr. Briggs."
Jack in the Box, at the intersection of 30th and Upas streets, before the rebuild, in 2012.
San Diego Superior Court judge Gregory Pollack ruled today that a complete overhaul of the North Park Jack in the Box was within the scope of the permit. The ruling should put to rest what has been a four-year-long legal battle.
In 2013, a group of residents calling itself the North Park Preservation Coalition sued the city for allowing Jack in the Box to demolish its restaurant located at Upas and 30th streets and construct a new building, despite current zoning that forbids drive-thrus at that location.
THE HISTORY
In 2011, Jack in the Box submitted a proposal to the city to rebuild the 35-year-old restaurant. The company planned to add 234 square feet, extend the drive-thru, and build outdoor seating. Neighbors, however, opposed the plan. They said the proposal would increase traffic, noise, and litter. But most importantly, it was illegal under the city's municipal code. In fact, the city council changed the zoning in 2000 to prevent new drive-thru restaurants from being built in the area. Because it was built before the zoning changes took effect, the Jack in the Box could remain, but only if the restaurant did not close for an extended period of time and if no major rebuild of the restaurant occurred.
The company ditched the proposal and opted to remodel the existing restaurant.
In May 2013, the burger chain obtained permits to renovate the existing restaurant. To ease the neighbors’ concerns, then–construction manager Mike Hogeboom sent a letter to the planning group informing them that the company would not "demolish any exterior walls."
Not long after, residents saw that the restaurant had been completely demolished, save for a handful of studs.
The residents complained of the rebuild to then-mayor Bob Filner. Filner attempted to issue a stop order but had failed to clear it with the city attorney's office before construction began. Filner backed off. The residents then filed a lawsuit in August 2013.
THE LEGAL FIGHT
The neighbors hired attorney Cory Briggs to represent them. In January 2015, judge Ronald Prager found that the group had not filed the lawsuit within 90 days of the permit and was a few days late, thus barring the lawsuit from moving forward.
Briggs and the North Park Preservation Coalition appealed. Last year the appellate court ruled that in fact the statute of limitations had not expired and the lawsuit was sent back to trial court.
Today (September 25), Briggs, deputy city attorney Jana Will, and an attorney for Jack in the Box appeared before judge Gregory Pollack.
After beginning the hearing, Pollack immediately informed the attorneys that he believed the permit allowed for exterior walls to be demolished. He stated that during the course of the remodel crews were forced to demolish additional walls due to dry-rot, which was all within the scope of the permit.
Briggs argued that Pollack would have no way of knowing the scope of the permit because neither the city or Jack in the Box ever produced the original permit, only a revised copy of one. In addition, said Briggs, the company's own construction manager had informed the residents that no exterior walls would be demolished, meaning that the walls were torn down after the permit had been issued.
Deputy attorney Will stated that the city only keeps electronic versions and was not aware if the city had the original plans.
Briggs asked that the judge allow him to depose city workers to testify on the permit process and whether copies of the plans and permits exist.
A judge asked deputy attorney Will whether she would agree. She did not.
"I am not going to subject my clients to abusive depositions by Mr. Briggs," said Will. "This case would never end if we did and Mr. Briggs would continue to raise different issues at the last minute.”
After the hearing, Briggs said his clients had not decided whether to file an appeal.
Here's something you might be interested in.
North Park Jack in the Box court case surprise
"I am not going to subject my clients to abusive depositions by Mr. Briggs."
North Park Jack in the Box court case surprise
"I am not going to subject my clients to abusive depositions by Mr. Briggs."
Jack in the Box, at the intersection of 30th and Upas streets, before the rebuild, in 2012.
San Diego Superior Court judge Gregory Pollack ruled today that a complete overhaul of the North Park Jack in the Box was within the scope of the permit. The ruling should put to rest what has been a four-year-long legal battle.
In 2013, a group of residents calling itself the North Park Preservation Coalition sued the city for allowing Jack in the Box to demolish its restaurant located at Upas and 30th streets and construct a new building, despite current zoning that forbids drive-thrus at that location.
THE HISTORY
In 2011, Jack in the Box submitted a proposal to the city to rebuild the 35-year-old restaurant. The company planned to add 234 square feet, extend the drive-thru, and build outdoor seating. Neighbors, however, opposed the plan. They said the proposal would increase traffic, noise, and litter. But most importantly, it was illegal under the city's municipal code. In fact, the city council changed the zoning in 2000 to prevent new drive-thru restaurants from being built in the area. Because it was built before the zoning changes took effect, the Jack in the Box could remain, but only if the restaurant did not close for an extended period of time and if no major rebuild of the restaurant occurred.
The company ditched the proposal and opted to remodel the existing restaurant.
In May 2013, the burger chain obtained permits to renovate the existing restaurant. To ease the neighbors’ concerns, then–construction manager Mike Hogeboom sent a letter to the planning group informing them that the company would not "demolish any exterior walls."
Not long after, residents saw that the restaurant had been completely demolished, save for a handful of studs.
The residents complained of the rebuild to then-mayor Bob Filner. Filner attempted to issue a stop order but had failed to clear it with the city attorney's office before construction began. Filner backed off. The residents then filed a lawsuit in August 2013.
THE LEGAL FIGHT
The neighbors hired attorney Cory Briggs to represent them. In January 2015, judge Ronald Prager found that the group had not filed the lawsuit within 90 days of the permit and was a few days late, thus barring the lawsuit from moving forward.
Briggs and the North Park Preservation Coalition appealed. Last year the appellate court ruled that in fact the statute of limitations had not expired and the lawsuit was sent back to trial court.
Today (September 25), Briggs, deputy city attorney Jana Will, and an attorney for Jack in the Box appeared before judge Gregory Pollack.
After beginning the hearing, Pollack immediately informed the attorneys that he believed the permit allowed for exterior walls to be demolished. He stated that during the course of the remodel crews were forced to demolish additional walls due to dry-rot, which was all within the scope of the permit.
Briggs argued that Pollack would have no way of knowing the scope of the permit because neither the city or Jack in the Box ever produced the original permit, only a revised copy of one. In addition, said Briggs, the company's own construction manager had informed the residents that no exterior walls would be demolished, meaning that the walls were torn down after the permit had been issued.
Deputy attorney Will stated that the city only keeps electronic versions and was not aware if the city had the original plans.
Briggs asked that the judge allow him to depose city workers to testify on the permit process and whether copies of the plans and permits exist.
A judge asked deputy attorney Will whether she would agree. She did not.
"I am not going to subject my clients to abusive depositions by Mr. Briggs," said Will. "This case would never end if we did and Mr. Briggs would continue to raise different issues at the last minute.”
After the hearing, Briggs said his clients had not decided whether to file an appeal.
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