Krishna Lunch of Southern California Inc. lost a round Thursday in its suit against the UC Regents, which challenges limitations that UCLA has imposed on the religious organization's ability to serve veggie lunches that are prohibitive and unconstitutional.
Los Angeles Superior Court Curtis A. Kin denied the motion for a court order banning the university from enforcing the $500 half-day fee and restrictions of four dates per quarter when holding Krishna Lunch's planned operations at Bruin Plaza.
The judge found that there was no "competent testimony of irreparable harm, immediate danger" that justified an emergency ruling, but he did not bar the group from seeking the same relief through the normal channels providing the defense sufficient notice.
In their court papers, UC Regents attorneys state that the Krishna group has operated subject to the four-day-per quarter restriction and $500 daily fee since 2022.
"Plaintiffs' delay in seeking this relief demonstrates that there is no exigency that warrants an expedited resolution of its motion," the defense lawyers argued in their pleadings.
In their suit, the Krishna maintain the restrictions are "tantamount to a ban on the lunch program" and say they cannot afford the $500 fee.
The nonprofit wants to resume holding the veggie lunch program twice weekly near the Bruin bear in the Bruin Plaza to serve their meat-free meals, which have been sanctified in religious ceremonies, the suit states. The group did so near Kerckhoff Hall without being assessed a fee from June to September 2022 and no problems occurred, the suit brought Dec. 10 states.
Bruin Plaza is centrally located on campus and is a popular gathering place for discussion, speech, relaxation, recreation, assembly and other activities, according to the suit, which says Krishna Lunch has stopped all of its activities in light of UCLA's "threats" regarding the fee and restrictions.
Krishna Lunch believes that a meat-based diet, economy and lifestyle all cause many serious diseases and contribute to environmental catastrophe. A case management conference is scheduled April 24.