Trees at root of Trinity lawsuits

Deirdre Newman

Trinity Christian Center officials didn’t turn the other cheek to

neighbors who sued the religious organization over concerns that

ficus trees planted at its sprawling complex pose a threat of damage

to homes.

The Christian network has filed a countersuit against the

neighbors, alleging damage to the ficus trees and conspiracy to

deprive Trinity of its rights to religious broadcasting.

Three neighbors sued the Christian television network on Sept. 18,

demanding that it remove 37 ficus trees that run along the block wall

that separates the center from the Lifestyle Homes community.

These neighbors say the ficus trees haven’t caused any damage yet,

but they are concerned they will in the future.

“We spoke to an arborist, and he said it’s just a matter of time

before the roots start getting under the homes and uplifting the

foundations and causing plumbing problems,” said Vance Ito, one of

the plaintiffs.

Trinity’s countersuit, filed on Oct. 28, accuses the neighbors of

entering Trinity’s property and damaging the trees. It also charges

them with conspiracy and harassment, blaming them for a City Council

decision in April that prohibited Trinity from getting a permit to

broadcast outside on a regular basis. Trinity had previously

broadcast outside for years without the proper permit.

John Casoria, Trinity’s attorney, was not available for comment.

In 1996, Trinity built its international headquarters, with an

indoor broadcasting facility, in north Costa Mesa.

The bad blood between Trinity and its neighbors began in July 2000

when the Planning Commission denied Trinity permission to extend the

block wall to 22 feet. The wall is part of the residents’ properties,

not Trinity’s. Neighbors had complained that the wall was

“prison-like” and unneighborly.

Tension simmered again earlier this year over Trinity’s outdoor

broadcasts, which neighbors complained created nuisances with noise

and parking.

In April, at Trinity’s request, the City Council decided to

consider the outside broadcasting permit even though the Planning

Commission had recommended waiting nine months to see if Trinity

could comply with an operations management plan it was required it to

create. City leaders ultimately rejected the permit, but said Trinity

could still apply for special event permits to broadcast outside a

few times a year.

Trinity planted the ficus trees after the wall extension was

denied. The neighbors asked them to remove the trees, but Trinity

refused, Ito said. So they filed a lawsuit because they felt that was

their only resort.

Ito said the ficus roots have already damaged the block wall,

causing it to tilt about four inches.

“It’s becoming a liability to us -- if the wall tilts over and if

somebody is on the other side of it,” Ito said.

Stacy Swanson-Schofro and Dianne Dorrien filed the suit with Ito.

Trinity’s countersuit claims that these three ventured onto

Trinity’s property and damaged the trees. It states that these

neighbors were “willful and malicious” in these actions and destroyed

the trees so that Trinity would have to remove them. The Christian

network is asking for at least $100,000 to restore the trees.

It also accuses these neighbors of conspiring to “intentionally

violate Trinity’s rights to the quiet use and enjoyment of its

property and to Trinity’s constitutional rights in regard to the free

exercise and practice of its religion and in the conducting of its

church services.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.