Jury Awards Lion Country $40 Million : Courts: Irvine Co. blocked operators of the defunct park from developing other projects, the panel concludes.

A jury concluded Friday that Irvine Co. should pay at least $40 million in damages to the operators of the defunct Lion Country Safari, concluding that Orange County’s largest landowner undermined the theme park company’s business.

The amount could go higher Monday, when the Orange County Superior Court jury will reconvene to decide whether Irvine should pay punitive damages as well for blocking Lion Country from making full use of 300 acres of property it leased from the company.

United Leisure Corp., the parent of Lion Country, claimed in the lawsuit that its inability to develop other uses for the property eventually forced it to shut down its operations.

“I think it’s a runaway jury, and evidence entered into the trial does not support the verdict,” said Peter D. Zeughauser, the land company’s vice president and general counsel. “We will ask the judge to set it aside and appeal if necessary.”

Though the award was less than the $50 million to $100 million that Lion Country had requested, the chairman of United Leisure was elated.

“Justice triumphed,” Harry Shuster said.

After four days of deliberations, the 12-woman jury rejected Irvine’s counterclaim alleging that Lion Country owes $2.5 million in back rent and penalties on the lease, which is still in force.

Lion Country Safari opened as a drive-through wilderness park in 1969 that allowed visitors to get close to exotic animals such as lions, elephants, zebras and giraffes.

Park employees made sure visitors kept the car windows rolled up.

Lion Country closed in 1984, citing a prolonged sag in attendance. United Leisure filed for bankruptcy reorganization two years later.

While it was operating, Lion Country subleased about 100 acres for the construction of the Irvine Meadows Amphitheater and the Wild Rivers water park, from which it still receives revenue.

Irvine unsuccessfully sued to stop both projects. The company said it wanted the site to be used for less-permanent attractions such as softball fields, horseback riding trails and a golf driving range.

United Leisure sued in 1987, alleging that Irvine tried repeatedly to thwart plans for development of lucrative recreational projects on the remaining 200 acres it was leasing at the site. United Leisure charged that Irvine “generally acted in such a way as to make it impossible to derive a profit from its lease.”