Irvine News Blog | Category Archives: Courts

Former church employee sues Irvine priest and Diocese alleging sexual assault

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Editor Posted in Churches, Courts, Crime, Irvine, Koreans, News Leave a comment

Former Church Employee Sues OC Priest, Diocese, Alleging Sexual Assault Following Complaints By Other Victims Years Earlier

Diocese Sent Father Alex Kim To Different Posts and to Treatment, Lawsuit Says

Orange County, Calif. – A former church employee sued the Diocese of Orange and a high-ranking priest today, alleging the church documented a history of sexual abuse by the priest before he accosted her last year.

The sexual assault and harassment complaint – against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orange (aka Diocese of Orange), Father Alex Kim, and St. John Neumann Church of Irvine – alleges that, in response to previous and similar complaints spanning at least a decade, the church ineffectively moved Father Kim to different posts and, in 2012, to a treatment center for sexually deviant priests before he sexually assaulted the latest victim between April and September 2016. Continue reading→

Appeals Court rules that the OCFA can’t refund tax money to Irvine

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Editor Posted in Courts, Fires, Irvine, News, OCFA, Orange County Leave a comment

County Prevails in Court Appeal over Use of Fire Funds

A plan by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to allow revenues received for fire protection to be used for any purpose has been struck down by the state Court of Appeal, which upheld a County challenge to the proposal.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted in January 2014 to oppose the OCFA plan, which would have diverted at least $134.5 million in fire funds to the city of Irvine through June 30, 2030, with no restrictions on its use. The city argued that the transfer was appropriate because Irvine property taxes allocated by the County for fire protection now far exceed its share of OCFA costs. A Superior Court judge disagreed in August 2014, ruling for the County. Continue reading→

Irvine’s eGumball, Inc. and their former HR manager dismiss lawsuit

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Editor Posted in Attorneys, Courts, Irvine, News Leave a comment

IRVINE- January 14, 2015 – eGumball. Inc., and Kim Perry, its former human resources manager, jointly announced the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Ms. Perry, in Orange County Superior Court, that resulted in a jury trial verdict last June.

The lawsuit focused on allegations of employment discrimination that the company has repeatedly denied.

In the course of deliberations, both parties reviewed the trial testimony and agreed that one critical plaintiff witness was impeached based on sworn deposition statements provided that were inconsistent with her testimony during trial. The parties recently determined that this unexpected circumstance was unfair to eGumball and had changed the complexion of the case. As a result, both sides agreed that justice would best be served by dismissing the case. Continue reading→

Appellate Court ruling affirms Musick Jail expansion

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, Irvine, News, Orange County Leave a comment

Appellate Court Ruling Affirms Musick Expansion

(Santa Ana, CA) — The Fourth District Court of Appeal has again found in favor of the County’s plans to expand the James A. Musick Branch Jail in Irvine, rejecting the fourth lawsuit filed against the expansion by the City of Irvine since 1996.

Irvine most recently argued that the County failed to properly analyze the environmental impacts of the expansion project when the Board of Supervisors in late 2014 approved seeking $80 million in state funding. But the court concluded that the County’s environmental reviews were proper and sufficient. Continue reading→

Family files a government claim against the OC Sheriff’s Deputies who shot their son

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Editor Posted in Attorneys, Courts, News, Orange County Sheriff, Public Safety, Rancho Santa Margarita Leave a comment

GERAGOS & GERAGOS, A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2015

Contact: Mark Geragos/Ben Meiselas, Attorney for Family of Alec Ouzounian, 213.625.3900, Geragos@Geragos.Com

FAMILY OF POLICE SHOOTING VICTIM ALEC OUZOUNIAN FILES GOVERNMENT CLAIM AGAINST ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES

Mark Geragos, of Geragos & Geragos, APC has been retained by the family of Alec Ouzounian, who was wrongfully shot and killed by Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies in Rancho Santa Margarita on May 12, 2015.

Alec was shot and killed inside his home. Alec was unarmed and completely naked when he was shot as he exited a bathtub. Alec’s father Raffi Ouzounian called 9-1-1 when he grew concerned about his son’s mental health. Instead of pursuing a proper mental health extraction, Deputy Sheriff’s ordered Alec’s dad, Raffi, to lead them into his son’s home. When Alec emerged from the bathroom naked, Sheriff’s Deputies shot him twice in the heart. Raffi watched deputies kill his son and saw Alec’s body fall down the stairs before his feet. Continue reading→

Judge rules that the OC Fire Authority can’t give rebates to Irvine

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Editor Posted in Courts, Irvine, News, OCFA, Orange County, Politics Leave a comment

County Prevails in Lawsuit Challenging Fire Funds Rebate

(Santa Ana, CA) — An Orange County Superior Court judge has invalidated a plan by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to redirect revenues paid to the Authority for fire protection, delivering a victory to County attorneys who claimed the payments constituted a gift of public funds.

The County Board of Supervisors voted in January to challenge the OCFA’s so-called “equity” plan, which would have allowed OCFA revenue to be spent on non-fire- protection purposes, with most of the rebates going to the city of Irvine. Continue reading→

OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens endorses Jeff Ferguson for OC Judge 2014

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Editor Posted in Courts, News, Orange County Sheriff, Politics Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 714-313-7824

OC SHERIFF SANDRA HUTCHENS ENDORSES JEFF FERGUSON FOR OC JUDGE 2014

Sandra Hutchens, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner, endorsed Jeff Ferguson for OC Judge this week. Ferguson is a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Orange County.

“I am deeply gratified by Sheriff Hutchens belief in my committment to public safety and the fair administration of justice,” said Ferguson. “Our safe streets has been my top priority as a prosecutor, and will remain my top priority as a judge.” Continue reading→

Five arrested in Newport Beach in a court DUI sting

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Editor Posted in Alcohol, Courts, Crime, Newport Beach, News Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock (714) 904-7042/Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Court Sting Update

Winter Holiday DUI Campaign

SANTA ANA, California (December 19, 2013) – Five people were arrested Thursday, December 19, 2013, at a Court Sting Operation conducted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as part of the ‘Avoid the 38’ DUI Task Force. This operation was conducted at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Continue reading→

Man charged with operating a brothel in Irvine

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, Irvine, News, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13HF3673: December 13, 2013

MAN ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT PIMPING AND PANDERING BY OPERATING BROTHEL IN IRVINE

*Co-defendant charged in this case is a fugitive with a warrant out for her arrest

SANTA ANA – A man was arraigned today on charges of conspiracy to commit pimping and pandering by operating a brothel in Irvine and another in Torrance. Gao Yang Zhou, 34, Rowland Heights, is charged with 12 felony counts including three felony counts each of pimping, pandering, money laundering, and one felony count each of conspiracy to commit pimping, conspiracy to commit general pandering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a sentencing enhancement for money laundering over $50,000. If convicted on all charges, Zhou faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison. The People requested Zhou be held on $500,000 bail at his arraignment today, and he must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Dec. 20, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach. Continue reading→

Man faces trial for bludgeoning and murdering a victim in Laguna Beach

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, Laguna Beach, News, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09HF2013: December 10, 2013

MAN FACES TRIAL FOR BLUDGEONING AND MURDERING VICTIM IN LAGUNA BEACH APARTMENT

*Co-defendant is awaiting trial in this case

SANTA ANA – A man faces trial tomorrow for the bludgeoning-murder of a Laguna Beach resident inside his apartment. Matthew Thomas Dragna, 23, Lake Forest, charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined. Continue reading→