Orcutt Neighbors and Santa Barbara County to Meet in Court Over Sinkhole Damages
Jarrod Zinn
ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – Residents of an Orcutt neighborhood that was heavily damaged during the winter storms of 2023, finally have a court date set for their lawsuit against Santa Barbara County.
It’s been a long road of recovery for these residents.
A torrent of water and mud from a large sinkhole and debris flow damaged several homes in the park place neighborhood.
The residents’ lawsuit against the county has a trial setting conference in February, more than 3 years after the devastating storm.
Residents of Park Place in Orcutt are seeking relief through a lawsuit against Santa Barbara county for significant property damages to the homes in their Orcutt Cul de sac from the sinkhole and debris flow during the January 2023 storm.
“I had to continue making my mortgage payment,” says Park Place resident Nancy Garcia. “In order to make my home habitable again, I had to take out a second mortgage. So I’m paying on that as well.”
Additionally, they experienced trauma during the flooding itself, as well as subsequent stress from paying for repairs themselves.
They also say they have to spend money to seek compensation from the county, having to hire geotechnical and hydrology engineering experts to contest the county denial of liability.
“We’re going to have a stigma attached to our property, you know, probably forever because, you know, just all of the damage that was done and we’re still we still haven’t done, you know, the back wall,” says Park Place neighbor April Hugh.
County representatives have placed their own cross complaint against the agricultural firm West Bay Company LLC, claiming West Bay’s hoop houses were the most direct causal link for the water basins to have filled.
“The county inspectors did say that the county flood control is responsible for what happened,” says Hugh. “And I just really would like them to own up to their liability on this and not blame someone else.”
West Bay Company is one of the multi-generational Miller family’s investment entities.
Neighbors we spoke to believe the county is at fault, and that’s why they’re suing.
“It’s very frustrating because we feel the county cannot own up to the damage that was caused by them,” says Garcia.
The Park Place neighbors are holding firm in their lawsuit against Santa Barbara county for loss of use and property value, repair offsetting, legal expenses, plus interest.
A county spokesperson says the county doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
Meanwhile, congressman Salud Carbajal announced that federal funding has been approved to reimburse Santa Barbara, Ventura and SLO counties for repairs made as a result of the January ’23 storms.
The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.