O’Brady’s owner sues state transportation department

The owner of the former O’Brady’s Drive-In restaurant in Dollars Corner has filed a lawsuit against the Washington State Department of Transportation, alleging workers illegally trespassed and damaged the property before the state acquired part of it for a highway expansion.

In a complaint filed in Clark County Superior Court last week, Susie Brady contends that WSDOT or its contractors damaged the property in May 2012 by digging two dozen boring holes and a large monitoring well.

Despite Brady’s objection, crews continued to work on the property, including areas outside the parcel WSDOT would later condemn, and caused other damage, according to the complaint.

The complaint seeks unspecified damages and asks that any future trespassing on the property be prevented.

O’Brady’s Drive-In, located at the corner of state Highway 502 and Northeast 72nd Avenue, closed in September 2012 amid a continuing dispute with WSDOT as the state prepared to widen the highway between Interstate 5 and Battle Ground.

WSDOT ended up acquiring only a 0.15-acre portion of the property adjacent to the highway. Brady maintains ownership of the building that was home to O’Brady’s for decades. The boarded-up building remains on-site.

WSDOT is expected to complete the $85 million highway widening project next year.