The 15th lawsuit dooms attempt to sell bonds by the end of the year and resume construction in January of the star-crossed redevelopment project. Mayor Dick Murphy says the city "will never give in" to the lawsuits. Murphy, a former judge, said the legal actions will eventually reach a point of being "completely redundant."

Another city official, city attorney Casey Gwinn, sounded an ominous warning, however. A major construction contract between the Padres and its builders will expire on March 15, making it possible the contract would have to be renegotiated if work is not under way by then. The Padres have agreed to pay for all cost overruns.

The most recent lawsuit, filed in early December by ballpark opponent Robert Simmons, challenged a Nov. 20 City Council vote on project financing. The suit alleges the vote violates the agreement between the Padres and the city and demands that a judge nullify it and force another public vote.