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Mark Srour, owner of College Park's Santa Fe Café and Cornerstone Grill and Loft, may be in danger of losing a civil case filed against him by the City of College Park, before ever coming before a judge.

Srour failed to issue a response within 30 days to a writ of summons from the Prince George's County Circuit Court in regards to a lawsuit the city filed against him for failing to install a sprinkler system.

On Jan. 14, Srour was served the summons, notifying him of the city's intention to take legal action against him, which stated he had to "file a written response… within 30 after service" of the summons. The trial date is set for April 9, 2010.

City attorney Suellen Ferguson confirmed he did not file a response.

"The normal route that one can take when someone is in default is a request of default judgment," meaning the judge would make a ruling in the case without any further proceedings, she said.

Ferguson would not say whether or not the city has requested a default judgment in this case but that it has "certainly been contemplated."

Srour declined to comment on the legal proceedings.

The City Council filed a lawsuit against Srour's company Double Eagle, Inc. in December 2008 for failure to comply with a stipulation in his property use agreement stating he would install a sprinkler system in Santa Fe Café.

"We filed a complaint which requests specific enforcement," Ferguson said. "We're asking the court to require Double Eagle to install the sprinkler."

According to the use agreement, which was signed in March 2003, Srour had three years to install a sprinkler system at the bar – which is a popular destination for University of Maryland, College Park students.

The City Council held an executive session regarding the issue after the council meeting Feb. 24.

"I hope that we see results soon," Councilman Patrick Wojahn (Dist. 1) said. "I'd like to see the sprinkler system installed. I hope that Mr. Srour will cooperate with the city. Unfortunately his track record has not been so positive."

Wojahn said installing the system is his foremost concern regardless of whether it comes from a court order or not.

"It just needs to happen soon," he said. "He's stalled quite a long time already. Every night there are patrons at Santa Fe, there's a possibility that people's lives are at risk."

Councilman Bob Catlin (Dist. 2) said he thinks the city will make an announcement regarding Santa Fe within the next two weeks.

"Hopefully, we'll have new information to the public," he said. "It will be related to the sprinkler issues."

Santa Fe's liquor license is up for renewal by the Prince George's County Board of License Commissioners in May, but the City Council chose not to oppose its renewal.

"The liquor board isn't terribly interested in our issue with the sprinkler because the county has rules that they don't need a sprinkler," Catlin said. "It wouldn't do any good to object to the license."