top of page
Legal Digest
Noisy Students Are An Environmental Impact, Homeless People Are Not
Final ruling in People's Park case turns around on one issue and softens the argument on the other -- but prompts Newsom to vow CEQA reform.

William Fulton
Feb 26, 2023
A Double Anti-SLAPP Situation
In an acrimonious case about water rights, an appellate court strikes down the "Weed Nine's" malicious prosecution argument.

William Fulton
Feb 21, 2023
If You're Going to Challenge on CEQA Grounds, Be Specific
An Arcadia homeowner wanted to stop the expansion of his neighbor's home. He took it to the Court of Appeal -- but he wasn't specific enough in his original comments before the city's planning commission and city council.

William Fulton
Feb 20, 2023
Court Kills CEQA Exemption For Irvine Office Complex
Appellate judges say that density transfer creates potential environmental impacts and therefore an "excxeption to the exemption" under Berkeley Hillsideis warranted.

William Fulton
Feb 13, 2023
Another Wildfire Evacuation CEQA Ruling Delays A Project
San Diego judge's decision also faults the City of San Diego for not analyzing cumuative impacts of several adjacent projects.

William Fulton
Feb 13, 2023
Legal Briefs: Case Against Rancho Planner Can Move Forward
An appellate court partially reverses a lower court decision on an anti-SLAPP motion in a case where a city planner sought to drum up opposition to expansion of a Montessori school.

William Fulton
Feb 6, 2023
Legal Brief: Ventura Fill Excavation Case Published
Court found that developer had not pursued all administrative remedies before suing.

William Fulton
Jan 31, 2023
Important Livermore Housing Ruling Published
Among other things, the appellate ruling found that Livermore's design standards are not objective and therefore cannot be used to deny an affordable housing project.

William Fulton
Jan 31, 2023
Court Still Down in the Weeds on Visual Impact of New Capitol Structure
But appellate justices say state was correct that aesthetics is a subjective matter and not inherently a significant impact.

William Fulton
Jan 24, 2023


Housing Accountability Act Helps Sink Challenge To Downtown Livermore Project
<p>100% affordable project can't be struck down based on subjective standards or lack of strict adherence to specific plan policies. CEQA exemption based on Downtown Specific Plan was also upheld.</p>

William Fulton
Jan 9, 2023
Unexpected Fill Removal Doesn't Lead To Eminent Domain
Developer's ignorance of appeals process means administrative remedies were not exhausted.

William Fulton
Jan 8, 2023
Malicious Prosecution Suit Against Prominent CEQA Lawyer Moves Forward
Appellate court rejected anti-SLAPP motion, saying San Anselmo lawsuit was meritless and lawyer was "indifferent".

William Fulton
Dec 30, 2022
bottom of page
