Monterey Park : Paint Firm to Drop Suit

A paint company is planning to drop its lawsuit challenging a city ordinance that requires stores to keep spray-paint under lock and key as an anti-graffiti measure, a lawyer for the company said Tuesday.

Torrance-based Standard Brands Paint Co. sued Monterey Park on Nov. 7, claiming that the law would hurt sales. Standard Brands is negotiating with city officials and will probably withdraw the suit before a hearing scheduled for Dec. 7, said Jim Rosen, an attorney for the paint company. He would not specify reasons for deciding to drop the suit.

The City Council adopted the law Aug. 28 as a way to prevent minors from stealing spray-paint off store shelves and using it to deface buildings. But Standard Brands, which owns a home decorating store in the city, said the law would be a nuisance and would discourage regular customers from buying paint.