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A county Superior Court judge Thursday lifted the temporary restraining order preventing the city from evicting an elderly inventor from his workshop. The city has plans to develop the site,
which is part of a 50-acre downtown redevelopment project. Superior Court Judge Robert C. Todd lifted the order, which was issued May 7 by Commissioner Eleanor M. Palk. It had barred the
city from evicting 73-year-old Michael Kunec. Kunec and the Brea Small Business Coalition had filed suit against the city and its Redevelopment Agency to halt the project, alleging that the
city had not complied with state guidelines for providing residents with relocation aid. Brea Assistant City Manager Tim O’Donnell said he is happy with the ruling, adding that the city is
“cautiously optimistic” that it will win the suit. But Kunec, whose shop has been in an aging warehouse in downtown Brea for more than 20 years, was stunned by Todd’s decision. “That’s not
good news,” Kunec said. “I never expected that.” MORE TO READ