SCHATENFREUDE

The standoff between Aaron Schat and the City of Bishop continues. 

The City has filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and order to show cause regarding contempt of court.

It seeks $363,000 in civil penalties, $8,000 in attorney fees and $5,800 in other ancillary costs. 

The hearing is set for May 3 in Inyo County Superior Court. 

The Schat saga has been carrying on for more than a year. 

The City filed its initial complaint against Mr. Schat back in February, 2023. 

The parties agreed to a stipulated judgment on August 28, 2023. 

At that time, it was agreed Schat would pay approximately $55,000 to the city for attorney fees, $81,000 in enforcement and administrative fees and $7,500 in civil penalties. 

But according to the most recent complaint filed by the City, “After nearly six months since the execution of the Stipulated Judgement, no progress has been made in getting code-compliant plans submitted to the City for the Sterling Heights and Whiskey Creek building, and no permits have yet been able to be issued … while permits were issued on the B of A building, there have been three failed inspections thus far, including concerns that the electrical work at the building was performed by an unlicensed contractor. 

In total, two out of the three projects have been in the planning stage for almost 18 months with little to no progress … said differently, the nuisance conditions that served as the basis for the City’s Complaint have remained unabated for almost a year and a half. Defendant Aaron Schat has submitted no less than three sets of plans for Sterling Heights, seven sets of plans for Whiskey Creek and six sets of plans for the B of A building to the City’s building department for review and consideration. Only one of the submitted plans has been code compliant.” 

In its most recent complaint, the City has asked that Aaron Schat be enjoined from further involvement with the development, planning and construction of the three nuisance properties and that fellow defendant Marianne Schat take control of the projects.