An environmental group lost an attempt Wednesday to stop a Fourth of July fireworks show in La Jolla.
The Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation asked for a temporary restraining order in San Diego Superior Court.
The group wanted to stop the Fourth of July show at the La Jolla Cove because it says discharging fireworks will harm sensitive coastal resources.
Superior Court Judge Linda Quinn ruled there was insufficient evidence showing the fireworks would cause irreparable environmental harm.
"The show is definitely on," said Attorney Robert Howard, who represents the La Jolla Community Fireworks Foundation. "This was a minor distraction, we were really impressed at how well informed the judge was in such a short period of time. We submitted an extensive amount of documentation in less than 24 hours."
Judge Quinn also said the city of San Diego's permit process is "convoluted and creates confusion."
"The judge considered the fact that the issue of fireworks displays will be taken up by the state," said Howard. "If more specificity needs to be made in the permitting process I'm sure the city will undertake it before next year and we'll participate in that process."
Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation attorney Marco Gonzalez said he believes San Diego needs to conduct a study to determine whether the La Jolla Cove fireworks show would cause environmental harm.
"Obviously we're disappointed but we knew we had an uphill climb," said attorney Marco Gonzalez with the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation after the ruling. "It's always a shame when you know you presented the better case and the judge walked in with her decision already made she announced her decision before we started and she didn't move off of it."
Gonzalez says he may file an emergency appeal of the ruling but hasn't made a decision yet.
In the meantime, the La Jolla Cove fireworks show is still on.
