California Municipal Law Blog
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Recent Court Decisions

AB 5 Signed By Governor: What is the Effect on Public Agencies?

by on September 19, 2019

posted in Employment Law, Recent Court Decisions,

On September 18, 2019, Governor Newsom signed AB 5 which codifies the Independent Contractor/Employee test in the Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903. AB 5 adds Section 2750.3 to the Labor Code which provides that a person providing labor or services for remuneration shall be considered an employee rather than an independent contractor unless the hiring entity can satisfy the ABC test.  ... Continue Reading

tags: AB 5, ABC Test, Dynamex Case, Independent Contractors,

Landmark Decision Provides for Greater Federal Property Rights Suits

by on June 26, 2019

posted in Recent Court Decisions, U.S. Supreme Court,

On June 21, 2019, the Supreme Court paved the way for property owners to sue local, county, and state governments in federal court. In a 5-4 decision in Knick v. Township of Scott, Pennsylvania, 588 U.S. ___ (2019) the United States Supreme Court overruled the precedent set by Williamson County Regional Planning Commission v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City, 473 U.S. 172 (1985).  ... Continue Reading

tags: Inverse Condemnation, Knick v. Township of Scott, Takings Clause, United States Supreme Court,

Health and Safety Code Receivership Super-Priority Liens Upheld by Court of Appeal

by on March 2, 2019

posted in Code Enforcement, Recent Court Decisions,

In a published opinion filed on February 26, 2019, the California Court of Appeal for the Second District upheld the use of super-priority liens to fund rehabilitations of residential properties under Health and Safety Code section 17980.7. At issue in City of Sierra Madre v. SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. was whether the trial court abused its discretion when it authorized the receiver to borrow $250,000, secured by a super-priority lien, to fund the remediation of residential property.  ... Continue Reading

tags: Health and Safety Code, Lien Priority, Liens, Receiverships,

Brown Act Committee Exception on Public Comment May Not Apply to Special Meetings

by on February 27, 2019

posted in Meetings, Recent Court Decisions,

“If you will it, it is no dream…” In an unpublished opinion filed on February 22, 2019, the California Court of Appeal for the Second District held that the City of Los Angeles violated the Brown Act when the Los Angeles City Council prevented a member of the public from commenting on real estate development at a special meeting. At issue was the application of the so-called “committee exception” to the requirement that members of the public be allowed to address the legislative body “before or during” its deliberations on an item of business.  ... Continue Reading

tags: Brown Act, Committee Exception,

Court Rules Enforcement of “Anti-Camping” Ordinance is Unconstitutional When Homeless Persons Lack Shelter

by on September 24, 2018

posted in Code Enforcement, Recent Court Decisions,

“Anti-camping” and related “sit-lie” ordinances cannot be enforced against homeless persons who have no access to overnight shelter.  As the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held on September 4, enforcement under such circumstances effectively criminalizes the status of being homeless, violating the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.  The Court’s decision, in Martin v. City of Boise, will make it difficult for local agencies to enforce their “anti-camping” ordinances to the extent they did previously.  ... Continue Reading

tags: Anti-camping ordinances, Homelessness, Martin v. City of Boise, Sit-lie ordinances,