Judge denies attempt to stop Huntington Beach air show settlement

An Orange County judge has denied an attempt by two former Huntington Beach officials to stop the nearly $5 million settlement between the city and the operator of the annual air show.

The Wednesday, July 26, ruling came from Judge Martha Gooding, who blocked the two officials’ motion to intervene in a lawsuit between Huntington Beach and Pacific Airshow.

Former Mayor Connie Boardman and former Planning Commissioner Mark Bixby filed the lawsuit on June 29 to stop what they saw as “an inappropriate gift of public funds.”

City Attorney Michael Gates said he was pleased with the decision and emphasized that this year’s air show wouldn’t be happening without the settlement.

“This removes the final impediment created by Boardman and Bixby to stop the air show from occurring,” Gates said.

The 2023 Pacific Airshow runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

Lee Fink, an attorney for Boardman and Bixby, said the judge denying their attempt to intervene doesn’t prevent them from filing another suit.

Boardman said Thursday that she and Bixby are going to have discussions on their best path forward.

“This was never about stopping the air show,” Boardman said.

Pacific Airshow sued Huntington Beach and former Mayor Kim Carr in October for losses it incurred after the third and final day of the 2021 air show was canceled following an oil spill. The spill caused beaches and fishing to close along much of the Orange County coast for weeks.

Pacific Airshow on July 13 filed to dismiss the city’s portion of the case.

While the city has settled for nearly $5 million, Pacific Airshow is still suing Carr for her role in canceling the last day of the 2021 event.

Huntington Beach could also pay up to $2 million more if the city recovers additional money in its lawsuit against Amplify Energy Corp., the company that owns the pipeline that leaked.

Source: Orange County Register