Palm Springs, CA
Government Lawyer at Palm Springs, CA
Practice Areas: Government, Litigation ... +3 more
OUTCOME: Client Prevailed in Federal Court Action
COMPLEX LAWSUIT BETWEEN COUNTY SHERIFF AND TRIBE IN WHICH TRIBAL COURT ATTEMPTED TO EXERCISE JURISDICTION OVER COUNTY SHERIFF. HANDLED CASE IN TRIBAL COURT AND AS CO-COUNSEL IN NORTHERN DISTRICT FEDER ... AL COURT
OUTCOME: client prevailed
elections law litigation
OUTCOME:
Proposition 218 case
OUTCOME:
Proposition 218 case: served as Amicus Counsel
OUTCOME: client prevailed resulting in historic published opinion
In 2010, the District adopted water and sewer rate increases effective January 1, 2011. According to the District, the rate increases are necessary if it is to remain solvent and to continue to carry ... out its vital public functions. According to the Proponents, however, the rate increases are unjustifiably high, due in part to employee salaries, health benefits, and pension benefits that are out of line with those prevailing in the private sector. The Proponents circulated petitions for two initiatives (one for water rates and one for sewer rates) that would undo the rate increases and restore the preexisting rates. The initiatives also provided that, every fiscal year, “the District may adjust these ․ rates by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index published by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics for the region applicable to the ․ District.” In May 2011, defendant Kari Verjil, the registrar of voters, notified the District that the initiatives had received enough signatures. (See Elec.Code, §§ 9308, subd. (e), 9309, subd. (f).) At that point, the District was statutorily required to order that the initiatives be placed on the ballot at the next general election. (Elec.Code, §§ 1405, subd. (b), 9310, subd. (a)(2).) 2 The District, however, did not do so. Instead, it filed this action for declaratory relief. - See more at: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1641299.html#sthash.i9Dclmcr.dpuf
OUTCOME: Client water district prevailed at trial court and on appeal
Historic Published Court of Appeal decision holding that a ballot measure may be kept off the ballot where it represents an effort by the electorate to exercise a power the electorate does not possess. ...