LAKEPORT >> A case management conference regarding a land dispute between the owners of the Hoberg”s Resort in Cobb and one of its neighbors was held Monday.
A case management conference is a meeting between parties involved, their lawyers and the presiding judge. The main purpose of the conference is to attempt settling some or all of the disputed issues prior to trial.
Paul and Susan Bleuss are listed as the plaintiffs, with Cobb Mountain Partners, the defendants in the original case regarding the land dispute, which was heard by Judge Richard C. Martin.
Lake County Partners (LCP) are the plaintiffs in a second case, the result of the transfer of ownership from Cobb Mountain Partners in April.
It has been requested that the two cases be consolidated, as both regard the same land dispute. Because the ownership group for Hoberg”s changed and LCP was not yet a party to the complaint at the time of the first suit, the request was not addressed by Martin.
Mediation is scheduled for Oct. 10, according to Lucia MacDonald, attorney for both LCP and Cobb Mountain Partners.
“It”s what I”m calling a self-imposed settlement conference,” MacDonald said.
The purpose of the mediation is to determine if the parties can reach an agreement that would not require going to a jury trial.
According to court documents, the Bleuss” own adjacent property to the Hoberg”s plot. The Bleuss” have a septic tank, including several feet of waste lines and boxes, that are on the Hoberg property.
The Bleuss” also have sections of a patio and spilt-rail fence on Hoberg”s property, as well as a permanent trailer with its own septic system, according to the documents. The first septic tank, patio and fence were installed in 1965. The permanent trailer and its septic tank were installed in 1972. The legal battle began with the acquisition of the Hoberg”s property by Cobb Mountain Partners.
“LCP filed a countersuit to protect itself against a lawsuit from the Bluess” that was holding up progress on the sale, and therefore progress on the renovation, opening, etc. of Hoberg”s Resort,” reported Roger Salazar of ALZA Media at the time of the transfer between Cobb Mountain Partners and Lake County Partners.
The partnership group took the action against the couple claiming intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, intentional interference with contractual relations and violation of California Civil Code, among other complaints. California Civil Code regards the “disparaging the goods, services, or business of another by false or misleading representation of fact.” Hoberg”s Resort was purchased by Cobb Mountain Partners in July 2010 with plans to renovate the property and open it as a club, resort, concert venue and filming site.
The case will be heard again during another case management conference on Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. in department 2.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
