Justice Archives - OC Watchdog

Concerns regarding accountability and transparency are reinforced by a state audit of the Orange County Electric Authority

A recent state audit of Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), a problematic sustainable energy business, revealed opaque marketing and financial services contracts. The agency's financial stability was also thrown into doubt by the audit. California's state auditor, Grant Parks, wrote to the governor and leaders of the state legislature that "OCPA demonstrated a pattern of...

“I Panicked And Fled To My House” : An OC Woman Describes Her Stalking Experience

I was inspired to write this narrative after listening to two women. On my lunch break, the three of us were speaking when one of them began to tell me about her recent experience dealing with a stalker. She vowed that she wouldn't live in terror, despite how eerie and frightening it was. After...

When Michael Harrah Tripped In OC’s Original Mike’s Lawsuit

In 2018, Michael Harrah was among the most daring and colorful business people in Southern California. His detractors and admirers regarded this real estate property developer from Newport Beach as daring and colorful. Harrah acquired the headquarters of The Orange County Register before he tried to attract an Amazon facility to the City of...

When FBI Seized Millions From OC Nursing College Owners

The Justice Department once accused Pacific College owners of running a student aid scam and sought ownership of the over $3 million that the FBI seized after a corruption investigation. The Education Department, the California Department of Consumer Affairs, and the FBI investigated a fraud scheme whereby Pacific College defrauded the ED of FSA...

When OC Accused Newport Beach Attorney Of Dodging Malpractice Debt

Many regarded Phillip Greer as the poorest veteran attorney of California, known for representing Orange County Republicans with many difficulties. The list of Greer’s embattled clients included Congressperson Ed Royce, State Assemblyperson Janet Nguyen, and Orange County Board of Supervisor member Shawn Nelson. Attorney Greer lived for years in a costly Newport Coast residence near...

Throwback: When Lawyer And Cop Battle Landed In OC Federal Court

In April 2018, the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse witnessed an altercation between a defense lawyer and an OCDA investigator connected to the 2016 jailhouse informant scandal. Norm Watkins and Jerry Steering used swear words as they portrayed their clients Dillon Alley and James Crawford as the victims in a 2016 ruckus. Judge David Ormon...

When Estate of Nicholsons And Family Of Murdered Maid Competed In Court

maid allegedly murdered by nicholson family member

Imagine that you reside in a gated community in Newport Beach and that your drug-addled and pampered son has been contemplating murder for a while now. In this case, what would be your legal duty to keep everybody away from that residence for fear of an act of murder? That question was pending in an...

Throwback: When Marijuana Smell Landed OC Gangster In Legal Trouble

Alan Batalla imprisoned for marijuana smell

In 2017, Santa Ana Police Department officers spotted suspicious activity, which included burning marijuana’s smell, at a hotel as well as a hangout for street gangsters. One of them, Alan Batalla, ran into those police officers and got into an argument with them before acting as per their commands. As an F-Troop gang member, Batalla...

When Wrongly Arrested Woman’s Case Against Ian Diaz Unimpressed Judge

Was it necessary to hold a cop civilly responsible for getting his former girlfriend’s arrest on fabricated charges of a sex crime? As far as Michelle Hadley was concerned, the answer to the above question was pretty obvious. Five years ago, Hadley underwent a nightmarish situation after she ended her relationship with Deputy Marshal Ian...