Seaside Pickleball Court Dispute: A dispute over pickleball play at Seaside’s Wheeler Courts has landed in court, with the first hearing held on Nov. 23. The case involves a neighbor, Sung Choi, and a frequent pickleball player, Chayo Lewis, who filed separate restraining orders against each other. The judge has extended the order against Choi, who must stay 100 yards away from Lewis and other pickleball players.
The Conflict Begins
The issue centers around a pilot pickleball program launched in 2020 at Wheeler Courts. The Seaside City Council made pickleball play permanent at the courts in April. However, the dispute isn’t about noise, as in some neighboring cities, but rather about parking and conflicts between Choi and Lewis.
Choi, whose home is near the pickleball courts, filed a restraining order against Lewis on Nov. 4, accusing her of threatening behavior and racial slurs. He also claimed that she picked fruit from a tree in front of his house.
Lewis denied the allegations, stating she believed the tree was on public property. In turn, she filed her restraining order, accusing Choi of stalking and inciting arguments with pickleball players, particularly women. Both restraining orders were temporarily granted, with a hearing set to determine their future status.
Court Orders and Mediation
At the Dec. 8 hearing, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Julie Culver ordered mediation between the two parties. The judge removed the temporary restraining order against Lewis but extended the order against Choi. Choi must stay away from Lewis and other pickleball players while the case is resolved.
About 20 pickleball players attended the hearings to support Lewis, with one player stating,
“You come after one of us, you come after all of us.”(one player )
Outside the courtroom, Choi expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution but later suggested that racial, ageist, or gender biases might be influencing the situation.
Moving Forward
The case is ongoing, and a mediation date has not yet been set. The outcome of this dispute could influence future interactions between pickleball players and neighbors, especially in communities with growing interest in the sport.
News in Brief: Seaside Pickleball Court Dispute
A dispute at Seaside’s Wheeler Courts between neighbor Sung Choi and pickleball player Chayo Lewis over parking and conflicts led to restraining orders being filed. The court extended the order against Choi and ordered mediation. The case, ongoing, may impact future relations between pickleball players and neighbors.
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