The San Diego County Fair reached an agreement Monday that will allow it to move forward this summer after a lawsuit appeared to jeopardize its reopening.
Superior Court Judge Keith Medel issued an injunction on April 5 that blocked a contract fairground owners issued to Ray Cammack Shows (RCS), a company that provides rides, games, and other carnival attractions.
A competitor, Talley Amusements, filed a lawsuit on Jan.31 and contended that the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds, circumvented a competitive bidding process to award a contract for all carnival operations to RCS.
Talley Amusements has been a ride operator at the San Diego County Fair for 18 years, according to John Moot, the lawyer representing Talley Amusements.
In his ruling, Mendel wrote in a 14-page ruling that the contract award had “at least the appearance of favoritism, which is contrary to public policy”. He stated Talley had a probability of prevailing on its claims that the agricultural association “has not followed the procedures that it adopted and advertised for the bidding process''.
In a statement, Moot said that despite the injunction, his client “will participate under the traditional Independent Midway model along with RCS and other traditional providers of rides.''
According to Moot, the lawsuit will remain on hold until after the fair.
The annual fair in Del Mar is slated to return on June 8 following pandemic-induced closures. Tickets are already on sale.
