Mt. Soledad residents settle lawsuit with city Mount Soledad residents whose homes were lost and damaged in the 2007 landslide have finally settled their legal fight to force the city to pay restitution. The City Council agreed to pay $297,584 total in compensation to seven homeowners in a unanimous vote on April 13. As part of the settlement, the city agreed to waive $186,100 in legal fees it incurred after winning a lawsuit against residents last October. Residents have agreed not to appeal the lawsuit. A Superior Court judge had ruled in favor of the city that it wasn’t liable for the damage caused to the homes in the 2007 landslide. Plaintiffs had pointed to four failures in the city’s water line during 2007, but ultimately were unable to link the water breaks to the landslide, according to attorney Michael Hearn, who represented 16 families in the lawsuit against the city. The city will pay $75,000 to demolish the house at 5695 Soledad Mountain Road and $35,000 to demolish the home at 5734 Desert View Drive as part of the settlement. Proceedings suspended for murder suspect Criminal proceedings were suspended April 7 against a University City man suspected of killing his father after the defendant’s attorney told a judge he didn’t think his client was mentally competent to stand trial. Nikola Chivatchev, 24, is accused of fatally bludgeoning his father, Alexander Chivatchev, 64, who died Oct. 7 in the La Jolla Crossroads apartment complex at 1:15 a.m. in the 9100 block of Judicial Drive. San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeff Fraser halted the murder trial, which was set to begin April 7, and appointed psychiatrists to evaluate Chivatchev in jail. If Chivatchev is found to be mentally incompetent for trial, he would be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment. If he regains his mentally competency, he would be returned to San Diego for trial. Chivatchev will be evaluated May 6, and doctors will prepare reports for another judge to rule in a May 24 hearing. Chivatchev has pleaded not guilty and remains at the downtown central jail on $1 million bail. His mother testified at the preliminary hearing and said her son struck her husband repeatedly with a dumbbell while he was asleep. — Neal Putnam Forum cancelled A skate park forum planned for Thursday, April 15 has been cancelled. La Jolla Parks & Rec. Inc., however, will discuss the skate park on Wednesday, April 28 at 5 p.m. at the recreation center at 615 Prospect St. Couple presents research findings Peter and Rosemary Grant, evolutionary biologists from Princeton University, will speak about rapid evolution and their observation that natural selection occurs now. The Grants said they have observed a natural selection of the Galápagos Islands finch in the 40 years that they’ve observed the bird, due to changes in the environment. The Grants will present their findings Wednesday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. at UCSD in the Price Center Ballroom. The lecture is free and open to the public. The couple was honored with the 2009 Kyoto Prize in basic sciences, which is Japan’s highest private award for global achievement. Register at (619) 235-4542. LJTC hosts mixer The La Jolla Town Council (LJTC) will hold its monthly SunSetter community happy hour today, April 15 at 5 p.m at Mr. Taco, 7918 Ivanhoe Ave. The event gives members of the community an opportunity to meet with merchants, business professionals, residents and local leaders from politics, the arts and non-profit groups. The happy hour is $5 for LJTC members and $10 for non-members. Attendees will receive complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. For more information, contact John Weinstein at (858) 456-4995 or e-mail [email protected]. NEWS DIGEST: • A man matching the description of the “Ho-Hum Bandit” gave a teller at the Citibank at 7900 Herschel Ave. a demand note on April 8. He was given an undisclosed amount of money and left on foot. Authorities describe the suspect as a white male, 25-30 years old, wearing a green polo shirt, blue jeans and a green cap. • Taste of the Triangle will be held April 23, 7-11 p.m. at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, 10950 Torrey Pines Road. The fundraiser, which benefits the five public schools in University City, features live music, food from more than 20 area restaurants and live and silent auctions. Tickets are available at www.uc-educate.org for $75 in advance; the cost will rise to $85 at the door. • Sixties’ surfing icon Mike Hynson, who co-starred in “Endless Summer,” will speak about his book “Mike Hynson: Transcendental Memories of a Surf Rebel,” April 17 at 7 p.m. at D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Ave.
