Hermosa-Macpherson lawsuit postponed

The $700 million Macpherson Oil lawsuit against the City of Hermosa Beach has been delayed until April 4, 2012 because of an illness in the family of one of the attorneys.

The breach-of-contract lawsuit had been scheduled to begin Jan. 18. Both sides agreed to the new trial date, city offcials said.

The lawsuit, which has the potential to drive Hermosa into bankruptcy, has wound up and down the court system for 13 years.

The trial next year is to determine whether Hermosa officials acted properly in 1998 when they canceled an oil drilling contract with Macpherson Oil Company, citing safety risks.

Macpherson’s contract would have allowed the company to slant-drill from city land at Valley Drive and Sixth Street, and draw oil from underneath the Pacific Ocean.

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