Judge denies attorney fees to neighbors who sued over Monterey HS stadium lights project.

A judge denied granting a group of neighbors over $400,000 for attorney fees in their lawsuit against the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District over a stadium lights project at Monterey High School.

In the Feb. 2 decision, the court didn’t find any significant issues with the environmental impact report, and determined the neighbors’ motivations to sue were based on their self-interest and that it didn’t provide a significant benefit for the community.

The battle lasted five years and it has been the longest Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh has experienced in his time at the district.

“We’re just thankful that we can invest that money back into our students where it belongs and not have to waste taxpayer money on lawyers’ fees,” Diffenbaugh says.

Molly Erickson, who represents the neighbor group Preserving the Peace, says the lawsuits weren’t about money but making sure MPUSD will focus on upgrading its facilities, such as classrooms, electrical systems and replacing windows, to benefit all students and staff.

“Those projects are essential, would help all students and staff, and would not have environmental impacts. That is what the voters thought they were getting,” Erickson says.

According to MPUSD’s 2018 facilities master plan, MHS needs over $95 million in upgrades. There is no mention of improving the stadiums at any of MPUSD’s high schools.

Diffenbaugh says the master plan was a general overview of the district’s needs and notes the focus on the stadiums was based on community feedback they received. Since 2015, MPUSD has invested or plans to invest $33.3 million in Measure P and Measure I funds; it includes $12 million for the stadium project and $14 million for the science innovation center.

Preserving the Peace is planning to sue the Division of the State Architect for approving MHS stadium’s lights project.

The stadium project upgrades will start in the spring.

Editor's note: The photo that originally appeared with this story showed the field at Carmel High School; it has been changed to show Monterey High School.