WALLA WALLA -- The giant purple octopus that's been the center of controversy in Walla Walla for almost two years has to go.
Thursday, a three judge panel in Spokane upheld the last judge's decision, the sign indeed violated city code and it's has to go.
"The decision speaks for itself. They rejected all of Mr. Catsiff's appeals. They rejected all of his arguments. The Court of Appeals up held the city sign codes and the city size and height restriction on the sign in a down town area," says Walla Walla City Attorney Tim Donaldson.
This also means Inland Octopus owner Bob Catsiff must pay that hundred dollar fine he's collected each day the sign was up after getting a notice back in October of 2010. The bill is currently at more than 50 thousand dollars.
Catstiff originally claimed that the city code restrictions were unconstitutional and violated his freedom of speech.
Catsiff can take this case to review, and the city is allowing him to keep the sign up until the case is completely settled if he wishes to take it further. However he will have to pay those $100-a-day fines if he ultimately loses.
An employee at Inland Octopus says Mr. Catsiff is out of town and not commenting on the ruling at this time.
