VENTURA : Courthouse Cooling System Springs Leak

A leak in an air-conditioning tank on the roof of the Ventura County Courthouse caused a stir Wednesday in Courtroom 42, where attorneys and clerical staff had to avoid buckets catching water that dripped from the ceiling.

“It was raining in the courtroom,” joked Mary Uhler, assistant to Court Executive Officer Sheila Gonzalez.

The tank, which holds water to feed the air-conditioning system, overflowed when a plate came loose and let water seep through the ceiling, said Vince Ordonez, assistant court executive officer.

Luckily, no trial or proceedings were taking place in Superior Court Judge Richard D. Aldrich’s courtroom, Ordonez said.

Although clerks and lawyers were using the courtroom, Aldrich was setting dates for civil cases in his chambers.

“If it was going to happen, it was the perfect time,” Ordonez said.

The dripping continued for about 2 1/2 hours in the morning until maintenance workers located the problem.

They vacuumed the excess water from the roof and the courtroom carpet, Ordonez said.

Some ceiling tiles in the fourth-floor hallway were soaked and will have to be replaced, which should cost no more than $200, he said.

“It was just kind of a freak thing that happened,” Ordonez said.