FREE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2002 Volume 1, Issue 83 FREE Santa Monica Daily Press Serving Santa Monica for the past 97 days Can’t find a space? Try the best-kept secret downtown director of the Bayside District All city-owned parking struc- City’s new parking Corporation, which oversees the tures, including its newest struc- garage goes commercial district. ture, are open 24 hours a day. Some business owners said From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the first two largely unnoticed finding the new parking structure hours are free, but it costs $1 each can be difficult. The entrance to additional 30 minutes. However, there is a $7 maxi- BY ANDREW H. FIXMER the new garage looks like a small Daily Press Staff Writer alleyway. And the parking struc- mum charge, and all vehicles ture, which is completely under- entering after 6 p.m. are charged a Despite spending $5 million on ground, is covered by a large flat rate of $3. a new downtown public parking apartment building. City officials said the garage is garage, the city has failed to Construction on the 294-space gaining notoriety among motorists advertise it’s open for business, structure ended last July, but not and it’s beginning to make more offcials say. many people knew about the extra money. The garage, located on Fourth parking because the senior hous- “Unless you get right up on it Street just north of Wilshire ing complex above it was still now, it’s still hard to tell if it’s a Boulevard, remains largely empty being built. parking deck,” said Oscar during the day with few signs “When it opened, the place Delgado, the city’s parking coor- dinator. “But it’s beginning to do Andrew H. Fixmer/ Daily Press directing motorists to its entrance. looked like a de-militarized zone,” The bottom floor of the city’s newest parking garage “At the moment it’s the best said Rawson. “But now with all well now.” was completely empty Friday afternoon, though vehi- kept secret downtown,” said the construction over, things When the structure opened, it cles had filled many of the spaces on the top two floors. Kathleen Rawson, executive should pick up.” See PARKING, page 3 Jury endured to hear Californians look to win lawyers suing lawyers $183 million Lotto jackpot of client confidentiality. Should the trial By staff and wire reports ’good-luck’ money,” Shiber said. Judge warns attorneys A single jackpot winner who chose the reach the point where the client is named, Californians looked for ways to boost Letteau said he would order the lawyers to option of 26 annual installments would not to make jury more their luck Friday as the jackpot for receive payments starting at about $4.57 return all of the fees they already have Saturday night’s SuperLotto Plus draw earned due to the breach. million and rising to about $9.33 million, hostile than it already is rose to $183 million. before withholding of 27 percent federal Mike Moini, an employee at Dee’s withholding tax. The estimated cash BY DAVE DANFORTH Diner on Santa Monica Boulevard, said Daily Press Staff Writer the restaurant typically sells between See LOTTERY, page 3 $30-$40 a day. By noon, the diner had A local judge has warned a flock of “In 20 years, I’ve never sold $400 in lottery tickets. lawyers that if their case goes too far, they seen a jury as hostile as “People are on a money hunt,” he will be ordered to cough up about said. $300,000 they’ve already pocketed. this one. These jurors “Play Here” screamed lottery banners Because lawyers rarely battle over at a Chevron station in Los Angeles’ their fees in front of a jury, Superior Court don’t want anything to Chinatown, where the lottery craze was Judge Robert Letteau found it offensive mixing with Chinese New Year tradi- that the case he is presiding has three do with this.” tions. lawyers suing a fourth over the splitting “The last few days has been crazy,” of a “contingency fee.” said manager Joe Shiber, 48, who was — ROBERT LETTEAU seeing many first-time Lotto ticket buy- “In 20 years, I’ve never seen a jury as Santa Monica Superior Court Judge hostile as this one,” Letteau told the attor- ers. neys in Santa Monica Superior Court this Customers usually spend $1 to $5 on week shortly after opening arguments in lottery tickets, he said, but that increased the legal fee case. “These jurors don’t to up to $50 after Wednesday, when no One of the attorneys, Peter Scolney, one won the midweek draw and the jack- want anything to do with this.” Andrew H. Fixmer/Daily Press who practices in Santa Monica, sued with pot rolled over again. The warning from Letteau comes The 7-Eleven on the corner of Seventh two others, claiming the $100,000 they “Now with the Chinese New Year, my because the lawyers promised to keep the Street and Wilshire Boulevard was Chinese customers have been spending a identity of their client confidential in the were paid for partnering in a case with jumping Friday as patrons lined up to lot more. They tell me they’re using buy lottery tickets. original case, which is unknown because See COURT, page 3 Learn Swing on The Dance Doctor’s Home Video AE GERMAN CAR SERVICE PASSENGERS WANTED to ]É{Ç 4 Lessons off L.A.X Vtááxáx OFF $ for 4 with this ad Salsa Latin Lindy Hop $10 OIL CHANGE Swing Hip-Hop Rave $99 includes 20 point inspection “Best service in Santa Monica” — Village Park Newsletter Tango Ballroom Boxing ON ALL MAKES OF GERMAN CARS SUPPORTING SANTA MONICA, SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY with this ad Jazz Kick Boxing Ballet 1440 Fourth Street, Santa Monica (310) 828-8700 310-828-3333 WE SPEAK ENGLISH! 310-459-2264 • www.dancedoctor.com 2633 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica Page 2 Saturday, February 16, 2002 Santa Monica Daily Press WE’VE GOT YOUR TTIICCKKEETT!! 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