Mission Viejo Sues College District Over Contract
Mission Viejo officials are suing the South Orange County Community College District for breach of contract, charging that district officials will not let the city remove its bleachers, lights and other equipment from a college field.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages.
The city rents the field at Saddleback College for the home games of the Mission Viejo Vigilantes, a professional baseball team. The lease expires Oct. 1.
The playing season already has ended, though, and the city staff needs to retrieve its equipment, Councilwoman Sherri Butterfield said. Some items, such as bleachers and portable restrooms, were rented and must be returned within the month, she said.
But when officials went to claim the property Monday, they were denied access to the stadium, according to the lawsuit.
John Williams, board president for the college district, which oversees Saddleback and Irvine Valley College, said late Wednesday that he had not seen the lawsuit and “had no idea it was on its way.” He said he was unaware that the city staff was not allowed to remove the equipment.
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