Judge Orders Arts Festival to Share List

An Orange County judge on Monday granted a Festival of Arts exhibitor’s request to inspect the organization’s privately held membership list after the Laguna Beach nonprofit group last month rejected an effort to recall its board of directors.

“Now we can present in our case whether or not the petitioners should be allowed their [recall] election,” said Eugene C. Gratz, an attorney for painter Robin Hall, who sought the membership list.

Hall asked a judge to intervene when festival officials rejected recall petitions gathered, saying first that there were not enough authentic signatures. Later, festival officials said additions could not be made to the original petitions.

“I am concerned [with] the manner [in] which the signatures are being handled,” Superior Court Judge William F. McDonald said of the festival board’s decision. “Under the structure, I question the propriety of that.”

But McDonald declined to issue a temporary order barring the board from entering into negotiations with San Clemente to move the festival there. Instead, he set a hearing on the dispute for May 24.

Hall is seeking an independent auditor to review the recall attempt.

The summer festival is in exclusive negotiations with San Clemente until June 19 for a new lease. It has claimed that Laguna Beach, its home for 68 years, was charging exorbitant rent--nearly $600,000 last year.