Judge Voids Phone Book Dispute Verdict

A Superior Court judge has thrown out a $1.1-million jury award and ordered a new trial in a lawsuit over rival phone books at Laguna Hills Leisure World.

Judge Ragnar Engebretsen ruled Monday in Santa Ana that there was too little evidence to support the judgment against Clare Twedt and Eric Tencamp, who published a rival 1997 phone book for Leisure World.

Twedt and Tencamp are former employees of Anchor Publications, which had published a Leisure World directory for years. Anchor filed suit alleging that the former employees defrauded the company by setting up their own firm, Farmers Publications, while still under contract to Anchor. The suit also contended that Twedt and Tencamp stole trade secrets and misled advertisers.

James M. Trush, a lawyer for Anchor, said he will appeal Engebretsen’s ruling, which he called “a bizarre result . . . after a unanimous verdict.”

Engebretsen previously had dismissed as defendants Leisure World homeowners groups and several individuals in the sprawling retirement community. The plaintiffs are appealing that decision.

Harland L. Burge Jr., a lawyer for Twedt and Tencamp, predicted the appeals will fail.

“The defendants do not believe that plaintiffs will ever demonstrate even $1 of damage,” Burge said.