Coastal Commission denied $1 million in penalties
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge last month ruled to deny the California Coastal Commission’s acquisition of $1 million dollars in civil fines and penalties from two Malibu homeowners.
The ruling involved a contentious decision requiring the homeowners to construct two stairways over an escarpment beneath their bluff-top home. The ruling stated that Graeme and Brenda Revell would not be penalized for unpermitted development that existed on the property when they bought it. Instead, they were required to remove a gate, a stairway on a coastal bluff leading to the beach and a lawn that was growing on top of the escarpment.
The homeowners, who purchased the house in 2004, had been commanded by the commission to build the million-dollar staircases, which were part of a 1980 condition of approval that allowed a previous owner to build the house. The house was constructed, but the staircases were never built.
Juan Cabrillo seeks auction item donations
The PTA of Juan Cabrillo Elementary School will host its annual fundraising event, “Fiesta Cabrillo,” on May 2, for which it is seeking auction item donations.
Such auction donations include vacation home rentals, hotel stays, entertainment and sports tickets/memorabilia, summer and surf camp gift certificates, restaurant gift certificates, airline mileage, products and any other items for the Fiesta Cabrillo silent auction.
The PTA funds science, art, computer and music programs for the students of Juan Cabrillo. With the current state budget crisis and looming school budget cuts, its fundraising efforts are more important than ever, the PTA stated in a press release.
Contributors will be included in the Juan Cabrillo Elementary School 2010-2011 school directory. More information can be obtained online at www.thedolphinclub.org.
Pepperdine to hold annual charity run
The sixth annual “Run the Waves” 5K/10K run will take place at Zuma Beach on March 6. The event is hosted by Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, and proceeds from the race will benefit both the Special Olympics and the Children’s Lifesaving Foundation.
The Children’s Lifesaving Foundation is a local nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of local area at-risk homeless youth and families, and has been running camps for at-risk and homeless youth in Malibu since 1993, in addition to its three other programs.
Donations can be made, race registration and additional information can be obtained online at www.pepperdinec4c.org or at www.childrenslifesaving.org.
Local club accepting scholarship applications
The Malibu Woman’s Club is accepting applications from local area high school seniors for $1,000 college scholarships until March 25.
Finalist selection is based on many factors, including academic achievement, grade point average, extracurricular activities, employment experience, references and a personal statement or essay. Previous winners have been active with various academic school clubs such as student council, honor society, math, and newspaper staff.
The club also recognizes fifth grade students in Malibu for their essays based on a selected theme. In 2009, more than 200 submissions were received from the Malibu area grade schools, with a first prize of $150 and a second prize of $75 in each fifth grade class.
The application can be obtained online at www.malibuwomansclub.com or from local high school counselors. More information can be obtained by calling 805.370.1944.
Truck takes 100-foot tumble
Two people suffered minor injuries Tuesday when a truck tumbled about 100 feet down an embankment north of Malibu, authorities said in a report by the Los Angeles Daily News.
Firefighters were sent to the area of Las Virgenes and Piuma roads at about 8:43 a.m., Los Angeles County fire Inspector Matt Levesque said in the report.
The two people, who walked to safety on their own, were taken to a hospital for treatment of facial cuts, the report states.
On Monday night, a driver, who said he swerved to avoid an animal, went off Stunt Road near Mulholland Highway, and he and a passenger plunged into a ravine. Both survived the crash, apparently without serious injuries, the report states.
Pepperdine names interim law dean
Thomas G. Bost was recently named the interim dean of the Pepperdine University’s School of Law. Bost, former chair of the University’s Board of Regents, has served as professor of law at Pepperdine since 2000. He served as associate dean for academics in 2009.
Bost’s appointment becomes effective June 1, the day departing Dean Kenneth W. Starr becomes president of Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Bost holds a bachelor’s of science degree summa cum laude in 1964 from Abilene Christian University, and a Juris doctorate in 1967 from Vanderbilt University.
Malibu man charged with wire fraud
Two cofounders of a bankrupt Chicago-based health care transaction software company, one of which is a Malibu man, were charged Monday for their part in allegedly defrauding investors of about $75 million, according to an ABC news report.
Malibu resident Jeremy Blackburn, former president and CEO of Canopy Financial, Inc., and Anthony Banas, former chief technology officer, were each charged with two counts of federal wire fraud, according to a criminal information filed in U.S. District Court. Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine and restitution is mandatory, the report states.
Blackburn, 36, had been charged last December with investment fraud, according to the information. He was released on a $1 million unsecured bond. Both he and Banas, 32, of Chicago, will both be arraigned at a later date, according to the report.
The information claims the men defrauded investors of about $75 million and misappropriated about $19 million from client custodial accounts intended for health care savings and expenses. Monday’s charges contain the first allegations that one of the men was involved in an alleged scheme to misappropriate millions of dollars from health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts the company held and administered for its clients, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The charges allege that Blackburn and Banas used false information about the company’s financial condition to obtain about $75 million from private investors. They also allegedly created phony bank statements during 2009 to conceal the transfer of about $19 million from special health care accounts that Canopy held as funds as custodian to make payments to medical providers to the company’s own operating accounts, the release said. It was from those accounts the men allegedly misappropriated millions for their own benefit.
Warrant issued to Reagan’s grandson
A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s grandson for failing to answer a charge of marijuana possession, according to a cnews.com report. Cameron Reagan, the son of radio and TV personality Michael Reagan, was pulled over for speeding in Malibu in November 2009, and officers allegedly found the drug while searching his car, the report states.
The 31-year-old was ordered to court to face a charge of possessing drugs on Jan. 8, but didn’t turn up at the hearing.
The court date came one day after Reagan was charged with resisting arrest after allegedly hurling drunken obscenities at cops who appeared at his parents’ California home when the burglar alarm was activated, the report states.
A judge presiding over the hearing into the marijuana possession charge has now issued a warrant for Reagan’s arrest.
Some county areas lack swine flu vaccine
Health officials say some swine flu vaccine has been unevenly distributed in Los Angeles County, with some poorer areas receiving less, according to a report released Monday by the Associated Press.
Figures for September to January show that the northern and southern areas, which include the Antelope Valley and South Los Angeles, got about one dose for every five people. The county average was one in three, the report states.
The western area that includes Beverly Hills and Malibu received more than one dose for every two people, according to the report.
Health officials say the poorer areas have fewer doctors and other health providers to request the vaccine. The county says it tried to help by setting up temporary vaccination clinics in areas with large numbers of poor and uninsured people.
Authorities also say there’s now a vaccine surplus countywide.
IRS has $1.3 billion for people who have not filed a 2006 tax return
Unclaimed refunds totaling more than $1.3 billion are awaiting nearly 1.4 million people who did not file a federal income tax return for 2006, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2006 must be filed with the IRS no later than April 15, 2010.
The IRS estimates that the median unclaimed refund for tax-year 2006 is $604.
Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim the refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.
For 2006 returns, the window closes on April 15, 2010. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date. There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund. Though back-year tax returns cannot be filed electronically, taxpayers can still speed up their refunds by choosing to have them deposited directly into a checking or savings account.
The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2006 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2007 or 2008. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to satisfy unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.
More information can be obtained online at www.irs.gov.
By Olivia Damavandi