Ralph’s Grocery Co. has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against a group of food truck operators allegedly causing a nuisance outside the Pacific Palisades store.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction that would prevent mobile food vendors from coming within 200 feet of the store’s perimeter.
Ralphs is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages, alleging that the truck sellers caused a nuisance in the form of traffic congestion, rudeness to store employees and waste generation, allegedly forcing the store to purchase more containers.
The lawsuit alleges that the sellers violated and intentionally disrupted the store’s potential economic benefit.
Since August, seven vendors have parked their businesses on Sunset Boulevard between La Cruz Drive and Carey Street, as well as on Alma Drive between Toyopa Drive and La Cruz Drie, the lawsuit said.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the truck’s location obscures the view of Ralph’s employees and customers when entering and exiting the parking lot, creating a dangerous condition.
In some cases, customers of the food vendors fight with each other or are hostile toward Ralph’s employees, the lawsuit alleges.
“On many occasions, store customers have been exposed to customers shouting profanities and driving recklessly,” the lawsuit said.
Despite filing complaints with the city and Los Angeles Police Department, the lawsuit says the store failed to get the sellers to move elsewhere.
