In 3Pak LLC v. City of Seattle, published May 5, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part the district court’s dismissal of a lawsuit brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Washington State law. During the 2020 protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, protestors occupied a…
In Make UC a Good Neighbor v. Regents of University of California, published December 19, 2025, the 1st District Court of Appeal, Division 5 affirmed a trial court order denying the plaintiffs’ attorney fee motion under Code of Civil Procedure section 1102.5. The plaintiffs petitioned for a writ challenging the defendant’s Environmental Impact Report under…
In Thomas v. County of Humboldt, published December 30, 2024, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part the district court's dismissal of a class action under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 challenging fines for illegal cultivation of cannabis. Under the county code, illegal cultivation can carry daily fines of $6,000…
In JCCrandell, LLC v. County of Santa Barbara, published October 29, 2024, the Second District Court of Appeal, Division 6 reversed a trial court decision denying a petition for administrative mandate. A company applied to the respondent county for a conditional use permit to cultivate cannabis. The holder of the land on which cultivation would take…
In Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association v. Powell, published October 11, 2024, the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division 2 reversed an award of fees under the Anti-SLAPP statutes and reversed denial of a special motion to strike under Anti-SLAPP. The plaintiff sued a water district and three of its board members, alleging aquifer replenishment charge assessments…
In Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California, published April 12, 2024, the United States Supreme Court reversed the decision of a California Court of Appeal. The plaintiff wanted to build a small prefabricated home on his residential parcel of land for his grandson to live in. The General Plan that the county board of supervisors…
In Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California, published April 12, 2024, the United States Supreme Court reversed the decision of a California Court of Appeal. The plaintiff wanted to build a small prefabricated home on his residential parcel of land for his grandson to live in. The General Plan that the county board of supervisors…
In Spencer v. City of Palos Verdes Estates, published February 27, 2023, the Second District Court of Appeal, Division 5 reversed an order granting judgment on the pleadings for the defendant city. The complaint alleged that a group of local surfers kept outsiders from accessing a premier surfing spot by threats, intimidation and violence. The…
In Gearing v. City of Half Moon Bay, published December 8, 2022, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court decision granting the defendant city's motion to abstain under Railroad Commission of Texas v. Pullman Co. (1941) 312 U.S. 496 from hearing the plaintiffs' regulatory takings case while the city's eminent domain suit regarding…
In Today's IV, Inc. v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, published October 5, 2022, the Second District Court of Appeal, Division 8 affirmed judgment in favor of the defendant authority after demurrer and motion for judgment on the pleadings. The plaintiff owns the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The only access to the hotel's…