JULIS NAVARRO
Staff Writer
Chase Heger/Staff Photographer
There is a reason why Pepperdine students do not frequently visit the Malibu Pier, and it probably has something to do with its near-barren state and the lawsuits surrounding its development. While the Malibu Pier is set to reopen in the near future, two lawsuits recently filed against its contracted operators have set back plans for a fully operational pier with concessions.
Malibu Pier Partners, the contracted company, is facing lawsuits alleging fraud and breech of contract, among other complaints.
Chase Heger/Staff Photographer
Jay Sadofsky who operated a weekend-only concession service called Mo’s at the pier, has filed a complaint against Malibu Pier Partners for breech of contract.Jeffrey Bonhach, who said he served as director of development for Malibu Pier Partners, filed a lawsuit that alleged he was unfairly terminated from his position. Prior to this, a legal battle over the rights of the trademark name “Malibu Pier” ended in August when a judge ruled in favor of the State of California and against Agoura resident Stephen Harper, who was sued after attempting to trademark the name “Malibu Pier” for a clothing line.
“My feelings are that we will eventually move beyond these lawsuits and bring some sort of concessions by the end of 2007,” Jefferson Wagner said. Wagner is a local resident who owns Zuma Jay’s surf shop, and is a partner in Malibu Pier Partners.
The Malibu Pier now has a fishing boat service available. Residents can watch surfers on the beach or fish off the pier. However, due to pollution levels consumption of fish caught is not recommended.
“Just driving by, I’ve never seen anything there,” Justin Haight said, a junior and computer science major. “I haven’t heard about the Malibu Pier since I’ve been here, so I’ve never actually considered going down there. I would go if I knew something fun was there.”
Charles Wang, a junior biology major said that, although he surfs by the Malibu Pier every week, he has never actually been on it.
“If they had cheap fishing poles to rent out or some good food, I would want to check it out,” Wang said. “That’d be pretty cool, if they reopened with some interesting stuff to do.”
“Pepperdine students are often on Surf Rider Beach and on the pier,” Wagner said. “Hopefully next year, they’ll be able to enjoy fully sold out concessions at the Malibu Pier.”
The recent lawsuit filed by Sadofsky under the legal title Malimo’s alleges that a verbal agreement was made between him and Malibu Pier Partners that Malimo’s would take over all food concessions at the pier. According to the lawsuit, after many negotiations, a final draft of the sub-concession agreement was never sent to Malimo’s. However, in an e-mail from Alexander Leff of Malibu Pier Partners to Sadosky, it is stated that the contract was sent, but never accepted. This is when Leff withdrew the offer.
Malibu Pier Partners took responsibility for all concessions that would be operating on the Malibu Pier when they signed a 20-year contract with the California State Parks Department in December 2004. This includes food service, retail, sport fishing boat tours and beach equipment rental.
11-16-2006