Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Hot air balloonists seek reimbursement for years of legal fees
Listen
Hot air balloon in flight.
(
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
)
Hot air balloonists will soon float over the Coachella Valley for the first time in more than two years. They were grounded after the owners of an olive ranch sued them for allegedly flying too close to their property. The olive farm dropped its lawsuit earlier this week, but the balloonists are saying not so fast.
JCM Farming has sued more than a dozen hot air balloon operators, of which all but two went out of business or stopped flying in the Coachella Valley.
JCM claims they flew so close to its 80-acre ranch and fortified compound that passengers could gawk at the people below. They also complained about the noise of occasional blasts from balloon gas burners.
Robert Gilliland represents the balloonists and says, “It’s our intention that we will be filing with the court a memorandum of cost to seek reimbursement of costs and fees against the plaintiff for their litigating this case for over two–and-a-half years and then deciding to dismiss it right before we began a court ordered site inspection.”
Support for LAist comes from
Those costs and fees have soared into the tens of thousands of dollars. That’s led one balloonist to file for bankruptcy protection.
Gilliland took on the case pro-bono earlier this year. He says his clients have a few options in how to proceed, but have not decided on their next course of action. “My clients will also have option of filing a separate lawsuit against JCM farming for their lost business and all the other damages they have incurred as a result of this frivolous lawsuit," he said.
JCM Farming also went after a pesticide company that flew over its property, a real estate firm that advertised on one of the hot air balloons and some freelance balloon pilots. Lawyer Robert Gilliland says he plans to release the findings of a study his firm commissioned. The study details the economic impact of the three-year litigation on Coachella Valley business and tourism. JCM has declined numerous interview requests.
The balloonists say they’ll resume flying in November.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist