Developing debt

San Diego — Developer C. Samuel Marasco, whose controversial $192 million plan to develop a commercial complex and pedestrian bridge across the San Ysidro border into Tijuana was hastily approved by a lame-duck city council late last month, has been named in a lawsuit seeking to collect a multimillion-dollar debt. The case was filed by Jean E. Hardy, trustee for the Hahn Family Trust, which was set up by the late Ernest Hahn and his wife Jean. Hahn was the developer of most of the county's big shopping centers, including Fashion Valley, University Towne Centre, North County Fair, and Horton Plaza. According to the suit, a note originally made out to the trust in June 1996 for $1.4 million "is in default and has not been paid." The suit alleges that the trust "has been damaged" in an amount "believed to exceed $2.3 million." Also named in the suit is Landgrant Development Corp., a company once owned and operated by Marasco and Hahn's son Ronald. According to a copy of the note attached to the case, both Ronald Hahn and Marasco were responsible for the debt, but Hahn is not named in the suit... Aran John Hansen, a member of the 1995 New Zealand America's Cup team that beat San Diego, has been found guilty of having sex with teenage girls, reports the Evening Post of Wellington.

Gore funds Vice President Al Gore's recount committee has taken in $3.5 million to pay for all those legal bills associated with his struggle over the presidency with George W. Bush. Big Gore donors include Jane Fonda, with $100,000. Only one San Diego name appears on the list: billionaire Qualcomm founder Irwin M. Jacobs, with $2000... Robert Barnett, a partner of Padres co-owner Larry Lucchino in the politically connected Washington law firm of Williams & Connolly, has been hired by First Lady Hillary Clinton to auction off the rights to her forthcoming autobiography, reports the New York Times. A Democrat, Barnett nonetheless has represented a roster of Washington insiders, the paper says, including Dan Quayle, George Schultz, and Dick and Lynne Cheney ... When San Diego's Synbiotics acquired the canine sperm business of a Pennsylvania genetics company back in 1996, they had frozen semen samples from 2400 dogs. Now, reports the New York Times, the Synbiotics sperm collection, stored for pet owners who want to artificially inseminate, is up to 4000 and growing. The company collects sperm from 50 clinics around the country.

Mobster's holiday Boston's infamous Irish mob enforcer James "Whitey" Bulger, who has been placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list with a $1 million reward, may be hiding out somewhere in or near San Diego, according to the bureau. The 71-year-old Bulger, who is considered armed and dangerous, has allegedly offed scores of victims in his long career of racketeering, drug dealing, and money-laundering. He's believed to be traveling with his girlfriend, Catherine Elizabeth Greig, 49. According to her wanted poster, "Greig is known to frequent beauty salons. She has an affinity for animals, especially dogs." Bulger's poster adds that "Bulger and Greig love animals and may frequent animal shelters. Bulger is an avid reader with an interest in history. He is known to frequent libraries and historic sites. Bulger is currently on the heart medication Atenolol (50 mg) and maintains his physical fitness by walking on beaches and in parks with his female companion."

Santa mugged San Diego TV viewers won't be seeing a controversial Sony spot that features Santa Claus being abducted and beaten by street people after all. The commercials, scheduled to run here and four other big markets, were pulled after industry critics said they were too "edgy"... San Diego's Gary Kauffman, who is trying to start a sightseeing helicopter service over the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, has filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration. Kauffman alleges that the Jackson Hole Airport Board discriminated against him when it imposed a moratorium on scenic flights.

Contributor: Matt Potter