• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Saturday, February 4, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

Litigation against Moulton Niguel Comes to an End

by Capo Dispatch
May 24, 2019 4:25AM
in EYE ON SJC, News
Court Tentatively Rules Moulton Niguel is Obligated to Pay its Share of Treatment Facility Improvements

Representatives for South Orange County Wastewater Authority say that maintenance issues at its Coastal Treatment Plant could have been addressed and paid for had Moulton Niguel Water District paid the roughly $2 million owed. Photo: Lillian Boyd

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Lillian Boyd

According to a settlement agreement released on Monday, May 20, Moulton Niguel Water District has agreed to pay $4.8 million in unpaid bills and legal fees to settle a lawsuit originally filed by Dana Point-based South Orange County Wastewater Authority in 2017.

The joint statement released by all parties involved in a lawsuit filed against MNWD was short and simple—unlike the litigation that had led to it.

The statement said that the agencies involved would work together in the future toward the betterment of the region and the coastal environment.

The initial suit was filed by SOCWA in May 2017, alleging that since July 2016, MNWD had stopped making payments toward the upkeep of a SOCWA-run water treatment facility, which serves several cities, including Dana Point, Laguna Beach and parts of San Juan Capistrano.

In March, The Capistrano Dispatch reported that a preliminary court ruling placed MNWD on the hook for roughly $2 million in delinquent payments related to capital improvements and maintenance costs for a wastewater treatment facility at Aliso Creek.

The Riverside County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 26, tentatively ruled that Moulton Niguel is responsible for paying its share of the bills toward the Coast Treatment Plant’s upkeep in Laguna Niguel until February 2030.

Moulton Niguel “is legally obligated to pay its proportional share of all costs, including capital costs and items, necessary to operate and maintain the Coastal Treatment Plant,” the tentative ruling states.

“This was how the judge interpreted the contract to establish a contract end date and to determine what money was owed,” said Joone Lopez, General Manager of MNWD.

The Dispatch received a scanned version of a check for $4.8 million from MNWD to SOCWA dated May 20. According to a statement released by SOCWA, MNWD will pay approximately $2.1 million to cover past invoices dating back to July 1, 2016 and will pay approximately $2.7 million to reimburse legal costs incurred by Laguna Beach, South Coast and Emerald Bay during the dispute. Lopez stated that a breakdown of costs for the $2.7 million had not been part of the agreement discussion yet.

In the May 20 joint statement from SOCWA, Moulton Niguel, South Coast Water District, Emerald Bay Service District and the city of Laguna Beach, it read that in regard to litigation on the coastal treatment plant, the parties have agreed to resolve their differences on mutually agreeable terms.

As members of a joint agreement with SOCWA, Moulton Niguel, South Coast Water District, Emerald Bay Service District and the city of Laguna Beach are each required to pay a certain portion of costs to maintain the treatment plant.

According to a news release sent by Moulton Niguel Water District, all legal proceedings relating to this litigation, including potential jury trial, have been concluded as part of an agreement.

“With litigation behind us, we will work to make necessary improvements, and then evaluate its size, cost and technology in an effort to optimize its long-term value to the region,” the Moulton Niguel Water District release states.

As for when the contract expires in 2030, Lopez says MNWD will “without a doubt” not be renewing a contract.

 

Lillian Boyd is the city editor for the Dana Point Times. Follow her on Twitter @lillianmboyd1, the DP Times @DanaPointTimes and The Capistrano Dispatch @TheCapistranoDispatch

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: Dana PointEmerald Bay Service DistrictFeaturedMoulton Niguel Water DistrictOrange CountyRiverside County Superior CourtSan Juan CapistranoSouth Coast Water DistrictSouth Orange County Wastewater Authority
ShareTweetPin

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

San Juan Hills Girls Basketball Bounces Back, Outduels San Clemente for South Coast League Title

San Juan Hills Girls Basketball Bounces Back, Outduels San Clemente for South Coast League Title

February 3, 2023
GALLERY: Five Vines Wine Bar Shines at 2023 Taste of San Juan

GALLERY: Five Vines Wine Bar Shines at 2023 Taste of San Juan

February 3, 2023
Proposed South OC Charter School Seeks Approval from OC Board of Education

OC Board of Education Approves New Capo Unified Charter School

February 3, 2023
Adoptable Pet of the Week: Marlowe

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Marlowe

February 3, 2023
Next Post
Tribute to Character: Little League Awards First Dave Rosa Awards in Memory of Late Long Beach Fire Captain, League President

Tribute to Character: Little League Awards First Dave Rosa Awards in Memory of Late Long Beach Fire Captain, League President

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.