Figas Construction, tangent on tee pees and PG & E saying they do not want to be involved in State of California's eminent domain lawsuit against Ray Christie

These are only two posts I have done on the eminent domain lawsuit the State of California filed against Ray and Jennifer Christie. You can google or search the blog for the rest of the posts. I have been adding updates to the December 23, 2025 post.

I was in the courtroom when Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson was filling in for Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Canning who was busy with a lengthy civil trial. I was not in the courtroom when Humboldt Superior Court Presiding Judge Kelly Neel heard the same argument that every judge mentioned in this post.

I am sick of hearing it; I am sure the judges are and at the last hearing before Judge Canning; PG & E is fed up. I don't blame PG & E. Part of the reason this case is dragging on is because Ken Bareilles goes off on with his gosh darn it, daggum tangents and Ray Christie needs to get a lawyer who can focus and articulate legal concepts or just represent himself.

Through the courtroom grapevine and my own observations when Judge Wilson was assigned to Ray Christie's 2018 criminal case; he can barely hide his disdain for Ken. Other judges as well as attorneys are more polite and poker faced.

As many in Humboldt say, "Ken is a nice guy but as a lawyer..."

Judge Wilson heard the same argument and told Ken and Ray Christie, these issues should have been litigated before.

This is an eminent domain case. The State of California has part of Ray Christie's land. It maybe for a bicycle path, I don't remember because I have trouble staying awake hearing the same argument from Ken which has no case law cited.

The same argument was made before Judge Neel.

On 6/5, there was a Case Management Conference and the case was before Judge Canning. He is the Humboldt judge assigned to civil cases unless there is a disqualification, recusal or he is busy in another trial.

Ken appeared for Ray Christie. I have not even seen Jennifer Christie at any hearing. I have not checked to see if their divorce is finalized. 

Ken told Judge Canning that "At last hearing, the State requested documents. Mr. Christie was here. lot of documents he does not have. We contacted a contractor to build another road.  Figas said two weeks but is afraid to submit a bid until Caltrans work is done."

That was new information.  Then Ken went off on why they need another road to access where Ray Christie now has cattle. The cattle get out on the road and that is a hazard. No one is there to watch them. Ken started with the same drawn out version of they had someone homeless who was living in a RV in exchange for watching the cattle. He is Native American. Both Ray and Ken are arguing the County will not let the RV be parked there and the State agreed to buy him a tee pee. The State denies any such agreement.

Judge Canning finally stopped Ken after what seemed like an eon and said, "These are issues for Judge Neel to decide. "

Ms. Abigail Fish for the State of CA requested dates be set for trial. Ms. Elizabeth Hwang for PG & E  said, "We have submitted proposal to Catrans. We don't want to be involved."

Dates were set in September 2027. I wrote them down and with all the cases I have had to update in the last two weeks and cover, I have to check again.