A group of wealthy individuals attempted to prohibit the public from accessing their so-called ‘private’ area.
Oregon
The lake has suffered another setback due to a multimillion-dollar legal expense.
The obstinate bunch of top performers was unable to maintain control over part of the south.
Portland
‘s Oswego Lake exclusive
after a 12-year legal dispute
, and they have now been hit with a total bill of nearly $1.6 million.
Their invoice totals $1,368,978.30 for legal costs following ten years of court battles, plus $221,792.85 in additional expenditures.
According to court documents, lawyers handling the case reported spending nearly 2,400 hours on it. The charges for their time varied between $500 and $700 per hour.
In 2013, the lawsuit was initiated by locals such as Todd Prager, an avid open-water swimmer, and lawyer Mark Kramer, aiming for public access to the lake’s 12-mile coastline.
They took legal action against the Lake Oswego Corporation, a housing association representing affluent homeowners with estates along the lake, as well as the City of Lake Oswego, over an ‘exclusive policy’ that prohibited them from accessing the scenic waterbody.
Lake Oswego Corporation struck back,
with residents raging
opening up the waterfront could introduce a less upscale atmosphere to the luxurious neighborhood and might ultimately ruin the lake experience.
Harvey Liu, who serves as a senior portfolio manager at the $500 billion investment firm Columbia Threadneedle, stated
Oregon Live
In an email, it was stated that utilizing the lake should be considered a ‘privilege’.
I think access to the lake ought to be considered a privilege rather than a right,” he penned. “This privilege would come with certain stipulations, including showing respect for both the lake itself and adjacent private properties which require maintenance expenses.
Mark Dunham, a 30-year local resident and commercial airline pilot, informed the newspaper that expanding public access to the lake would ‘eventually ruin’ it and ‘overburden the city’s resources.’
Dunham noted that the tranquil spot beneath Millennium Park, where people currently enjoy views of the lake, transforms into a lively spectacle on sweltering summer days. Paddleboarders and tube enthusiasts prepare to dive into the waters here, turning the area into a festive scene.
Lake Oswego Corporation stands for over 4,000 households that previously paid for exclusive access to Oswego Lake.
The system ceased operations earlier this month following a ruling from the Clackamas County Circuit Court in support of local swimmers and kayakers, which led to the opening of the lake.
Judge Kathie Steele instructed the City of Lake Oswego to take down the no-trespassing signs and eliminate other barriers obstructing access to the waterfront by March 3rd.
Enthusiasts of open-water swimming joyfully entered the lake for the initial dip once it was accessible, yet the conflicts had only just begun.
Mark Kramer, who was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, took part in kayaking at the lake but
came back to discover his vehicle had been scratched
, allegedly by a wealthy local woman.
The Lake Oswego Police mentioned that an ‘unidentified perpetrator’ vandalized a car in a public parking area located on Foothill Road, situated in the southern part of the city.
Portland
, on March 8.
Kramer mentioned that a informant provided a note stating they witnessed an elderly lady damaging the car with keys around 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, after which she drove off in a black Range Rover.
The witness did not provide their contact information, but disclosed the suspect’s license plate number, which Kramer said he has given to police.
Lake Oswego Police have called for the ‘anonymous witness’ to come forward, along with anyone else who may have observed the vandalism.
Lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the public access case stated that their lawsuit led the Oregon Supreme Court to set a new legal standard outlining the public’s entitlement to access lakes originating from ‘areas publicly owned.’
‘The plaintiffs aimed to (and successfully did) uphold a significant public right applicable to all citizens, with no specific or personal benefit for themselves,’ the attorneys stated.
‘Consequently, as a result of the legal case, everyone in the general public—regardless of whether they are part of the Lake Oswego Corporation—can now use the water from Oswego Lake.’
‘I’m thrilled that the public has finally regained access to this unique and important public resource,’ plaintiff Todd Prager told The Oregonian after the ruling.
‘I trust the public will enjoy their direct access to the lake responsibly.’
LIFEHACK has contacted the relevant parties to seek their comments on how the substantial amount will be distributed among those implicated in the legal case.
Read more
