Student Co-ops and Neighbors Reach Settlement

Date: May 25, 2005

Contacts: George Proper, gproper@usca.org, (510) 848-1936, ext. 325

George Lewinski, galewin@earthlink.net , 415-713-9898

The University Student’s Cooperative Association (USCA) and neighbors of Hillegass-Parker House (formerly Le Chateau Co-op) have reached a settlement in Superior Court.

In Spring 2004, twenty-two Chateau neighbors initiated a series of small claims court actions against the USCA, alleging damages arising out noise and other nuisances. Following a small claims court judge’s decision to award varying amounts to fifteen of the neighbors, the USCA filed an appeal in Superior Court. The case was settled after the first day of a three-day trial, with the assistance of Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch. Prior to reaching a settlement, the USCA decided to temporarily close the house during the summer for repairs, rename it Hillegass-Parker House, and reopen it in the fall as primarily graduate student housing.

As part of the Superior Court settlement, the USCA will pay fifteen neighbors a compromise sum without any admission of liability or wrongdoing. The USCA will formalize an agreement to close Hillegass-Parker House during the summer, and repopulate it with graduate students, returning students, visiting scholars and post-doctoral students in fall 2005 for a period of at least three years. Both sides have agreed that for the same time period, future disputes shall be arbitrated before the East Bay Community Mediation (formerly Berkeley Dispute Resolution Service) without attorneys.

According to longtime neighbor George Lewinski: “We are relieved that years of negotiations and successful small claims actions have resulted in a settlement. The neighbors look forward to improved relations with the new Hillegass Parker House.”

“We look forward to a new era of cooperation with our neighbors, “USCA General Manager George Proper echoed. “I think I can speak for both sides when I say we are all pleased to have this chapter behind us.”

More information on the Hillegass-Parker House