In the world of construction defect litigation, man has bitten dog: Not only did 19 Mission Viejo homeowners lose their $5 million damage suit against the OC office of National Ready Mix Services Co., but OC Superior Court Judge David Velasquez ruled they must pay about $500,000 ($26,000 each) in defendant court costs. Ironically, general contractor Fieldstone earlier took the usual route of settling with the plaintiffs. Mark Mueller says builders and their lawyers are hailing the rare win for a defendant. “Well it finally happened. A concrete supplier grew a pair,” opined Western Roofing Editor Marc Dodson. The Insider hears the real driver was National’s insurer, CNA; winning lawyer was William J. Ingalsbe of Monteleon & McCrory in Santa Ana …
Popular UCI Provost Michael Gottfredson, passed over for the chancellorship last year, is considered a top candidate to head another university. He recently was rumored to be in the running for the presidency of his old school, the University of Arizona, before the selection of U of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Provost Robert Shelton. Meanwhile, the man who got UCI’s top job, Bay area transplant Michael Drake, says he hopes to retain Gottfredson. Both told the Insider they like each other and are working well together. “I’m happy here. It’s a great place to be,” said Gottfredson, who shared the dais with Drake and UCI Foundation Chair Doug Freeman at this month’s celebration of fund-raising milestones. Gottfredson added, “Being provost of a UC university is a very good job.” The Insider notes there’s a chancellor opening at UC Santa Cruz …
Superstar Gwen Stefani, hubbie-rocker Gavin Rossdale and their new son Kingston spent a weekend at the Balboa Bay Club, the Insider is told. Rossdale played a pro-am tennis tourney at Newport Beach Tennis Club benefiting the Aliah Sweet Fragile Hearts Foundation …
John Wayne Airport extended its evening curfew by one hour last Tuesday (to 11 p.m. for takeoffs and midnight for landings) after the power outage that disrupted flights throughout Southern California. While JWA occasionally bends the deadline by a few minutes to accommodate a delayed flight, spokeswoman Courtney Wiercioch said this was the longest curfew extension in memory. The airport reported 15 to 20 noise complaints from residents …
The $372 million UCI Medical Center in Orange gets topped out Aug. 3. Facing and interior work to continue …
Blockhead mistake: Cal State Fullerton benefactor Rick Muth runs Orco Block, not Ortho Block …
Two OCers were separately featured in the July 3 Newsweek,Pastor Rick Warren, one of “The 15 People Who Make America Great,” and commentator Hugh Hewitt.
