CP&DR

Trial Court Rejects 8 Changes Made by Wilson Administration in 1998

Jun 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 06 Jun 2001

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge has overturned eight amendments that the Wilson administration made to the Guidelines for implementing the California Environmental Quality Act. And although Judge Ronald Robie had not issued a final judgment as of late May, sources said his decision was unlikely to be appealed.

State PUC Held to Lesser Standard for Environmental Study of Project

Jun 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 06 Jun 2001

The City of Vernon has lost a case in which it alleged that the California Public Utilities Commission should have required environmental review of a proposed rail yard expansion. A unanimous three-judge panel of the Second District Court of Appeal ruled that Vernon failed to prove that the project was unreasonable. The case demonstrates the differences between projects controlled by the California Environmental Quality Act, and projects that fall under other sections of the state Public Reso

Appellate Panel Says County Can reapportion Property Tax Revenue

Jun 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 06 Jun 2001

A Santa Barbara County special district had no standing to sue over the apportionment of property taxes from a resort development within the district's boundaries, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled. And even if the district did have standing, its claim was filed after the 60-day statute of limitations for challenging a government agency's action under the Cortese-Knox Local Government Reorganization Act, the court held.

In Brief

May 1, 2001

In Brief, other, Vol. 16 No. 05 May 2001

Sign Owner's due Process Claim Is 20 Years Too Late, Court Rules

May 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 05 May 2001

An advertising company should have challenged Caltrans' mid-1970s cancellation of billboard permits many years ago, the First District Court of Appeal ruled in March. The court rejected the company's attempt to revive the permits on grounds that the permits were not properly canceled in the first place.

State Supreme Court Ends Review of San Diego Tax Case

May 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 05 May 2001

The California Supreme Court has dropped its review of a business tax case from San Diego after deciding the court should not hear the case after all. The action means that the Fourth District Court of Appeal decision that exempted a tax on residential rentals from Proposition 218 remains in effect. However, the opinion will go unpublished.

District Loses Colorado River Claim

May 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 05 May 2001

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court's ruling against the Mohave Valley Irrigation & Drainage District in a water rights battle against the Interior Department. At dispute was an allegedly ambiguous contract regarding the western Arizona district's Colorado River water rights.

Development Opponents Lose Fight Over City's creation of Cul-de-Sac

May 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 05 May 2001

The City of West Hollywood had the authority under the Vehicle Code to turn a through road into a cul-de-sac to accommodate a development, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled. The court rejected project opponents' contention that the city had to prove that the street was no longer needed for vehicular traffic.

Court Says Santa Monica Cannot Limit ‘Granny Units' to Grandma

May 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 05 May 2001

A Santa Monica law limiting occupancy of second units to relatives and domestic employees has been thrown out by the Second District Court of Appeal. The unanimous three-judge panel ruled that the city's second-unit ordinance violated privacy and equal protection rights.

Billboard Developer's Big Hurry Gets Slowed by Appellate Panel

May 1, 2001

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 16 No. 05 May 2001

A billboard company jumped the gun when it claimed two of its proposed signs were "deemed approved" because of delays by the City of Los Angeles, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled. The unanimous three-judge panel upheld a trial court's dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Eller Media Company.

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