Et Sue?

Et Sue?… If you can’t beat ‘em, sue ‘em, and while you’re doing that, why not make some money to finance said lawsuits? That appears to be the model that Todd Clark, co-owner of Museum of Handcar Technology, is employing at his business, which offers tours in handcars down the rails of the Monterey Branch Line from Del Monte Boulevard in Marina to south of Lightfighter Avenue in Seaside.

On Nov. 30, Clark filed a federal lawsuit against the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, alleging TAMC didn’t renew the business’s lease, which expired Oct. 31, in retaliation because Clark brought to light TAMC’s failure to fulfill its obligations to create rail service under Prop. 116, a 1990 rail ballot measure that TAMC used to finance its acquisition of the branch line in 2003. Then on Jan. 3, Clark filed another lawsuit, this one in Sacramento County Superior Court, against the California Transportation Commission, the state agency tasked with overseeing Prop. 116 acquisitions, that broadly alleges the agency didn’t fulfill its obligations under the law to see that the money was spent responsibly, and in the spirit of what voters approved in 1990. And it appears that Clark is going to keep the wheels rolling until the litigation is sorted – despite his lease expiring more than two months ago, he’s still carrying on, business as usual.

That gives Squid a chance to go work all the arms riding a handcar.

Big A** Lies… There have been a few viruses going around Squid’s lair lately, so Squid is using all of Squid’s remedies: extra saltwater (easy to come by), shrimp noodle soup and lots of sleep. Squid swears this stuff works – but Squid knows better than to try and sell these techniques to any other creatures.

Not so for the Kentucky-based company Big Ass Fans, which finds itself subject of a Dec. 13 civil complaint filed in Monterey County Superior Court by a boatload of California district attorneys, including Monterey County DA Jeannine Pacioni. In the allegations of unlawful business practices and false advertising, Pacioni argues that starting in June 2020 – peak Covid-19 fear – the company “advertised and sold products that purported to ‘kill’ pathogens in the air and on surfaces, including ultraviolet germicidal irradiation lamps and ionization technology,” using equipment that attaches to ceiling fans sold by the same company. They promised it would reduce Covid infection risk 78-92 percent, which seems to Squid like an entirely made-up figure. (Squid’s colleague reached out to the company, but did not hear back.)

It might be years later, but Pacioni is seeking a court order prohibiting the sale of these items, $2,500 for each violation and restitution to the victims. Squid will volunteer to add to the restitution with a cup of shrimp noodle soup for each consumer.