Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

 

Page 3

 

Court Will Remain Closed for at Least One More Day Due to Power Failure

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

The Los Angeles Superior Court’s Central Civil West Courthouse at 600 Commonwealth Ave. may reopen tomorrow after a complete power outage forced it to close yesterday and today, officials said.

The court has instructed people with court business scheduled for today to call or come to the courthouse tomorrow, but has not set a firm date for reopening the facility.

All matters on calendar in the Complex Litigation Unit, as well as the Family Law courtrooms in CCW will be continued until tomorrow, at the earliest, the court announced.

Until further notice, documents relevant to cases at CCW may be filed at Room 102 in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse on 111 N. Hill St., officials said.

The power outage, whose cause is still under investigation, occurred at about 3 a.m. yesterday following a reported electrical fire that occurred sometime Sunday in or near an emergency generator on the building’s 19th floor, a court spokesperson said. No injuries were reported.

In a release, the court said it is cooperating with the Los Angeles Fire Department, the county Chief Administrator’s Office and the Child Support Services Department to monitor the situation and determine when the building may reopen and when file materials can be retrieved.

There is no voicemail, computer and phone service in CCW, the court has advised, but courtroom personnel have been and will continue notifying parties and counsel with appropriate instructions as further information becomes available.

Attorneys in complex litigation cases in which documents have been routinely posted to the Internet may be able to move forward in those matters, the court said.

Clients with appointments for Los Angeles County Child Support Services offices may obtain information by calling 1-800-615-8858.

 

Copyright 2006, Metropolitan News Company