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Coachella Valley balloon operators sue owners of mysterious olive ranch
Hot air balloon readying for lift-off.
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Coachella Valley balloon operators sue owners of mysterious olive ranch
Coachella Valley balloon operators sue owners of mysterious olive ranch
Hot air balloonists are suing the owners of a Coachella Valley ranch who tried to ban flights above their property. The farm dropped its lawsuit earlier this year, but not before the balloonists racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
The balloon operators hope to recover $337,000 in attorneys’ fees. A wealthy farming family from San Diego County sued the two operators for allegedly flying too close to its Inland olive ranch. The same farmers threatened other balloon operators with legal action.
Attorneys for JCM Farming claim the balloons invaded occupants’ privacy and posed a safety risk. The balloonists say they never flew below federal requirements. JCM dropped the lawsuit just as it appeared the case would go to trial.
But the long-running legal saga deflated the Valley’s commercial balloon industry. Attorneys for the balloon operators commissioned an economic analysis that calculated losses of nearly $10 million for each year the hot-air balloons were grounded. They plan to resume flying next month — at about the same time a court will schedule a hearing on the balloonists’ lawsuit.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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