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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026
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Trial date still pending in Malibu PCH crash case that killed four Pepperdine students
Malibu files landmark lawsuit City’s 257-page complaint targets MRCA and SMMC, seeking ownership of city trails and citing years of alleged mismanagement, safety hazards, and fire dangers
Defendant Fraser Michael Bohm waives speedy trial as court reviews evidence and scheduling delays By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
Still no trial date has been set for Fraser Michael Bohm, the Malibu man accused of causing the deaths of four Pepperdine seniors in a car accident on Pacific Coast Highway in 2023. Bohm, now 24, appeared at Superior Court in Van Nuys April 9 for another pretrial hearing. Many spectators said they were hoping a trial date would be set after the possibility was discussed at the last hearing in February. Judge Thomas Rubinson told the nearly filled courtroom that he would possibly be on vacation the first two weeks of August and that his absence could affect a start date. Bohm’s lead defense attorney Alan Jackson — who has been representing celebrities and even for a brief period Nick Reiner, who is accused of murdering his parents Michele and Rob Reiner — did not appear in court Thursday, but his colleague, Jacqueline Sparagna, sitting by Bohm’s side, and prosecutor Nathan Bartos both indicated they would be CONTINUED ON PAGE A5
By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor In Chief
In a sweeping legal action that could reshape control of public lands across the Santa Monica Mountains, the City of Malibu has filed a 257-page lawsuit against the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Local leaders in planning, policy, real estate, land use, finance and development gather April 10 at Pepperdine’s Graziadio Business School to discuss post-fire rebuilding in Malibu. Pictured are Community Development Director Yolanda Bundy (center left), Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce CEO Maryam Zar (center right), Schmitz and Associates CEO Don Schmitz (MRCA), alleging years of unsafe trail management, inadequate wild(seventh from right), and City Manager Joe Irvin (fifth from right). Photo courtesy of the City of Malibu fire mitigation, and disputed ownership of key trail easements within city limits. Filed April 14 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the complaint seeks to establish Malibu’s Urban Land Institute Los Angeles summit at Pepperdine University highlights rebuilding efforts in Malibu ownership over public trails and easements—particularly those along and Pacific Palisades, with a focus on post-wildfire recovery and insurance challenges facing homeowners Murphy Way and Winding Way— tics of acquiring permits to the enormous chal- tate investment at Graziadio Business School while demanding reforms to what By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times lenges that those who are rebuilding are facing and managing director of Local Equity, an city officials describe as a pattern of CONTINUED ON PAGE A5 with insurance claims and financing hurdles, economic development organization that Local experts in planning, policy, real estate, the two panels discussed the current status of creates commercial real estate and infrastrucland use, finance, and development convened rebuilding in and near Malibu and long-term ture public-private partnerships, launched a at Pepperdine’s Graziadio Business School on goals for the construction, insurance and real spirited and informative colloquy concernthis week April 10 for two focused panel discussions ex- estate finance and development sectors. ing progress Malibu has made in processing ploring strategies to strengthen community repermit applications for fire rebuilds and the silience while addressing the complex realities Planning and policy for resilient commu- challenges the community has grappled with of rebuilding in Malibu and other fire-prone nities since the wildfire. CONTINUED ON PAGE A6 areas after the Palisades Fire. From the logisDr. Gil Keinan, adjunct professor of real es-
Rebuilding Malibu: Experts tackle permits, insurance, and the cost of recovery
INSIDE
Malibu neighborhoods unite to strengthen disaster preparedness Homeowner associations collaborate on wildfire safety, communication, and response efforts By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
Presidents and leaders of some Malibu homeowners associations and neighborhood organizations gathered on April 11 at the Bluffs Park Michael Landon Center to discuss cooperatively preparing for disasters to improve communication and response coordination for residents during evacuations, electrical outages, and other challenges Malibuites face during wildfires, high winds, and mudslides, and to coordinate efforts to prepare for the possibility of earthquakes and tsunamis. Wendy Carroll, a board member of the Malibu Road Homeowners Association, spearheaded the effort to organize a meeting of leaders of various neighborhoods. The group was assisted by the input of three City Councilmembers — Marianne Riggins, Haylynn Conrad, and Doug Stewart — and Don Schmitz of Schmitz & Associates, a land use planning and development consulting firm that has provided residents with services for decades.
Attendees from various neighborhoods throughout Malibu expressed concerns that area agencies such as State Parks, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy do not clear brush and other foliage that could fuel a wildfire from their lands. “I am on the board of directors for the Malibu Colony neighborhood organization, and State Parks simply does not clear its brush!” said a visibly frustrated Marshall Coben. Several attendees agreed wholeheartedly with that concern. Janet Fulk, a board member of the Malibu Rebuild Task Force and a Big Rock resident, noted their community is providing fire extinguisher training, and she also expressed concerns about private roads being properly cleared and maintained safely. Progress in clearing brush in the Santa Monica Mountains Conrad stated that she is attending meetings for an MRCA advisory board and the agency is being CONTINUED ON PAGE A4
‘Heading Home’ by artist Gay Summer Rick shown at Malibu City Gallery |B1
Members of Malibu Volunteers on Patrol, the Community Emergency Response Team, Arson Watch, and Malibu Community Brigades pose with the Malibu City Council and staff during the April 13 meeting, where officials proclaimed April 19–25 as National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Photo courtesy of the City of Malibu
Council advances fire safety plan, initiates litigation, and marks National Volunteer Appreciation Week
Officials highlight wildfire preparedness, post-fire recovery challenges, and address rising crime and public safety concerns during April 13 meeting By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor In Chief
The Malibu City Council addressed a wide range of issues at its regular meeting on Monday, including wildfire preparedness, post-fire recovery, public safety, and city operations, while also directing the City Attorney’s
Office to initiate litigation in a closed-session decision. Mayor Bruce Silverstein led the meeting alongside Mayor Pro Tem Steve Uhring, Councilmembers Doug Stewart, Haylynn Conrad, and Marianne Riggins, as well as newly appointed City Manager Joe Irvin and city staff. Interim City Attorney Trevor
Rusin reported that the council voted 4-0 to pursue litigation, with Conrad recusing herself. Specific details of the case were not disclosed and will be released once formally filed, provided disclosure does not interfere with service or negotiations. A significant portion of the
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Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . A2 • A tremendous shoutout to Malibu’s rebuild warriors on the MRTF’s one-year anniversary News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . A3 • Southern California Edison against audits of wildfire prevention spending Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . A4 • April 19: Pollinator Plant Giveaway Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . A7 • Telling stories of war, heroism, survival and patriotism Malibu Life . . . . . . . . . . B1 • Aldrich sets fast-paced vision for Waves basketball People . . . . . . . . . . . . . B2 • Malibu Scene: An Interview with Claude AI: Part One Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3 Business & Directory . . . B5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7 • Pepperdine coach Tim Ward’s evolution redefines success