CITY MAY SUE POT-FARM HOUSE OWNERS CIVIL LITIGATION COULD PREVENT PROPERTY USE FOR ONE YEAR.Byline: JIM Jim Miss Watson’s runaway slave; Huck’s traveling companion. [Am. Lit.: Huckleberry Finn] See : Escape SKEEN Staff Writer PALMDALE -- City officials are looking at using civil litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. as a tool to combat drugs, including pursuing actions against owners of two homes that were recently the scenes of marijuana farm busts. Palmdale officials are considering lawsuits that would take control of the houses from the owners -- at least temporarily. Potential targets include a house in the 2400 block of Carolyn Drive, where deputies seized 1,000 marijuana plants, and one in the 39000 block of Evening Star Street, where deputies seized 200 pot plants. Both of those raids occurred in February. Also being looked at for possible legal action are homes in the 37000 block of Justin Court, the 4000 block of Avenue R-13, the 37000 block of San Ysidro Way, the 38000 block of 16th Street East and the 6000 blocks of Catania and Barletta courts. The issue will be discussed by the Palmdale City Council in a closed session tonight. City officials declined to discuss the specifics of those cases, citing the closed session, but did speak about the general concept of using litigation as a tool in the fight drug-related crimes. "The Health and Safety Code allows a city to abate abate v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or private nuisance or some structure built contrary to public policy. This can include dikes which illegally direct water onto a neighbors property, high volume noise from a rock band or a factory, an improvement nuisances, including the cultivation of narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. ," said Noel Doran, deputy city attorney. "Under the Health and Safety Code, one of the remedies a judge can order is to have a location shut down for one year to any use." Councilman Steve Hofbauer said litigation is another tool in the law enforcement toolbox. "If you don't hit these guys in the pocketbook, what's your recourse? You play, you pay," Hofbauer said. In the Carolyn Drive case, deputies noted the absence of beds or living-room furniture and said the house appeared to be used solely for a marijuana farm. The house is in a new subdivision that overlooks Highland High School Highland High School or Highlands High School may refer to: In the United States:
The marijuana cultivators rigged an electrical system that allowed them to bypass the meter system for the house while tapping into Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Edison's power grid. This allowed them to save thousands of dollars in electrical bills and, more importantly, elude e·lude tr.v. e·lud·ed, e·lud·ing, e·ludes 1. To evade or escape from, as by daring, cleverness, or skill: The suspect continues to elude the police. 2. the suspicion that growers typically draw by using the high amounts of energy required for such elaborate cultivation, deputies said. james.skeen(at)dailynews (661) 267-5743 |
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