PASADENA, Texas—Today marks 1,000 days since the city of Pasadena approved a settlement in a lawsuit brought by mechanic Oz Sepulveda and his attorneys from the Institute for Justice (IJ). In the settlement agreement, the city agreed to let Oz open his mechanic shop on Shaver Street without adding 23 additional parking spots that he could not afford, did not need, and would not physically fit on the property. However, the city went back on its word almost immediately and now, 1,000 days later, it still refuses to hold up its end of the settlement agreement and let Oz open.  

“For 1,000 days, the city of Pasadena has been stringing Oz along and refusing to abide by its own agreement,” said IJ Senior Attorney Diana Simpson. “We are once again calling on the city to do what it said it would and let Oz open, instead of continuing to waste taxpayer money on legal delay tactics.” 

This case began in December 2021, when Oz filed a lawsuit challenging a city law that would have required him to have 28 parking spots at his Shaver Street location before he could open. The lot cannot physically fit that many spots and Oz only averages three cars per day at the rented location he is forced to use instead. On May 17, 2022, the city approved a settlement agreement to let Oz open his Shaver Street shop without 28 parking spots. However, since that time, the city has continued to refuse to grant Oz his occupancy permit. 

Since the settlement was reached, Oz and IJ have tried various means to get the city to comply. In March 2023, they filed a motion to enforce the settlement. In June 2023, hundreds rallied at the Shaver Street location and sent letters to city officials urging them to hold up their end of the bargain. When neither of those approaches worked, Oz and IJ filed a second lawsuit over the breach of contract. In May 2024, a judge rejected the city’s attempt to have the new lawsuit dismissed, calling their actions “very, very sad,” and “bad public policy.” The city has since appealed that ruling, a delay tactic to prevent Oz from having his day in court. 

“These delays have really hurt my ability to earn an honest living,” said Oz. “I have to continue paying a mortgage on a building that sits completely empty, while also paying rent at my current shop so I can earn enough money to get by. I just want the city to do what it promised.”