Legal Digest

In case from Davis, appellate court does not find "unusual circumstances" that would lead to an exception to the exemption.

In a battle over $1.2 million in attorney's fees in a case involving eight townhomes, court says Housing Accountability Act does not dominate. But it's not clear how the case will turn out.

In La Habra, the City Council delegated final approval of the housing element -- after negotiations with HCD -- to the city manager and didn't hold a final public hearing. An appellate court says that's fine.

The city's famous 1986 initiative required developers to prove that they could provide infrastructure according to city standards. But, as it turns out, the initiative didn't set the standards. 

Although an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is still possible, the reluctant city might finally have to adopt a housing element.

In a case from Dublin, a local judge seems to think so -- even for a ballot meausre. 

Passage of SB 450 means L.A. judge will look again at whether the lot-split law applies to charter cities. 

SB 158, which lifts the CEQA exemption for some projects, apparently applies only to one project in the entire state: a proposed eight-story apartment building behind the iconic Santa Barbara Mission.

Appellate court concludes city should not have exempted car wash, which could lead to more Benzene emissions near school playground

Proponents request for a second review of signatures for ballot is deemed a protected free speech activity and the judge granted an anti-SLAPP motion against the City of San Diego

The city has won two ballot measures to raise the height limit around its longtime sports arena. Now, for the second time, an appellate court has struck down the associated environmental analysis -- and the ballot measure.

Reversing lower court, appellate justices say city acted properly in repealing previous approval and limiting new approval to administrative actions.