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ARMENIAN SCHOOL IN GLENDALE SEEKS $6M IN DAMAGES FROM CITY
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2012 - 13:02 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A private Armenian school in Glendale that has been
fighting to operate for nearly two years is seeking up to $6 million
in damages from the city that it claims it suffered as a result of
being temporarily shut down.
Glendale News-Press reports that Scholars Academic Foundation claims
in its lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court that the
city violated its rights to due process and caused economic harm
when officials closed the school by "yellow-tagging" the building in
February 2010.
The school is seeking $2.75 million to $6 million in damages, according
to court documents.
But City Atty. Mike Garcia argued in court documents that the school's
claims lack merit, and even if they didn't, the most Scholars Academic
Foundation could recover is three to five weeks' worth of rent.
"The economic impact of the 'yellow-tagging' is minimal," Garcia
contended.
A judge took the case for review last week, but Garcia said in an
email that a decision isn't expected for some time.
The city maintains it had the right to shut down the school after a
fire inspection found an inadequate fire alarm and locked or blocked
exits. The school's attorneys have said the issues were quickly fixed
and the shutdown was excessive.
The school's principal, Anahit Grigoryan, said during court proceedings
that the city's former zoning administrator, Edith Fuentes, said the
school could operate in its new building if it quickly applied for
permits. But that turned out to be an incorrect assessment.
The city sent the kindergarten-to-12th-grade school violation notices
but never received a response. In a surprise February visit, a fire
inspector found it unsafe to occupy.
After the safety issues were fixed, the city still wouldn't let the
school open, according to court documents.
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2012 - 13:02 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A private Armenian school in Glendale that has been
fighting to operate for nearly two years is seeking up to $6 million
in damages from the city that it claims it suffered as a result of
being temporarily shut down.
Glendale News-Press reports that Scholars Academic Foundation claims
in its lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court that the
city violated its rights to due process and caused economic harm
when officials closed the school by "yellow-tagging" the building in
February 2010.
The school is seeking $2.75 million to $6 million in damages, according
to court documents.
But City Atty. Mike Garcia argued in court documents that the school's
claims lack merit, and even if they didn't, the most Scholars Academic
Foundation could recover is three to five weeks' worth of rent.
"The economic impact of the 'yellow-tagging' is minimal," Garcia
contended.
A judge took the case for review last week, but Garcia said in an
email that a decision isn't expected for some time.
The city maintains it had the right to shut down the school after a
fire inspection found an inadequate fire alarm and locked or blocked
exits. The school's attorneys have said the issues were quickly fixed
and the shutdown was excessive.
The school's principal, Anahit Grigoryan, said during court proceedings
that the city's former zoning administrator, Edith Fuentes, said the
school could operate in its new building if it quickly applied for
permits. But that turned out to be an incorrect assessment.
The city sent the kindergarten-to-12th-grade school violation notices
but never received a response. In a surprise February visit, a fire
inspector found it unsafe to occupy.
After the safety issues were fixed, the city still wouldn't let the
school open, according to court documents.