Developer to Pay Sierra Club’s Fees in Dispute over City of Lakeport Project.
As reported by Denise Rockenstein in an August 17, 2010 post on RecordBee.com, developer Cristallago will pay the attorney’s fees incurred by the Sierra Club in a settlement approved in relation to a mixed-use resort community project located near City of Lakeport. Sierra Club challenged the EIR in court, but reached a settlement to stay the litigation pending developer’s compliance with certain conditions. Cristallago is to pay Sierra Club $35,000 in attorney’s fees as part of the settlement.
Selling Pot to Pay for Legal Expenses . . . Not Advisable!
In an August 19, 2010 article in newsreview.com, a Northern California man allegedly directed his 19-year-old girlfriend to sell pot to pay for his legal expenses in a pending criminal case. Well, girlfriend was caught, which led law enforcement agents to man’s home, where large tubs of dried marijuana in various stages of processing were discovered. These developments have led to more criminal charges being advanced man.
Victorious Proposition 8 Lawyers May Move to Recover Fees.
Most everyone is following the legal battle over the constitutionality of Proposition 8, California’s gay marriage ban. However, MercuryNews.com in an August 19, 2010 post reports that the lawyers overturning the ban—if successful on appeal—may seek attorney’s fees and court courts. However, they may try to wait until the Ninth Circuit rules on the propriety of U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision.
Livingston Councilman Questions City Attorney Pay.
In the aftermath of the City of Bell scandal
(where the city manager’s annual salary was more than $700,000 and part-time council members were making $100,000 a year), Central California city Livingston has some at least one councilman questioning the jump in city attorney’s fees to between $50,000-$100,000 per month. Interestingly enough, Livingston’s former city attorney was from the same firm that represented City of Bell. For more details on the controversy as well as reader comments, see Mike North’s August 20 post at mercedsunstar.com.
Washington Court of Appeal Unseals Billing Records in Criminal Case.
![[Lady Franklin Bay Expedition members Dr. Octave Pavy and Jens skinning a seal]](https://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c30000/3c36000/3c36100/3c36197r.jpg)
Unsealed: Expedition members skinning a seal. c1881-1884. Library of Congress.
A Division III Court of Appeals panel in Spokane, Washington agreed that a trial court was correct in offering to unseal billing records to the Yakima Herald-Republic in its ongoing battle for access to $2 million in court-appointed defense attorney billing records in a 2005 double murder case. The appellate panel decided that no privilege attached to the identity of an attorney’s client and the fees charged for representation. (See Chris Bristol’s article “Ruling favors requests for records of murder trial attorney fees,” posted on August 19 at yakima-herald.com.)
Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) Spent $31,360 in Losing Effort to Keep Secret the Names and Pensions of Retirees Making $100,000+ Per Year.
As reported by Tony Saavedra in an August 21, 2010 article in The Orange County Register, OCERS spent $31,360 in its lost battle under California’s public records act to keep secret the names and pensions of retirees making at least $100,000 a year. OCERS bucked the fact that two judges in Contra Costa and Stanislaus counties ruled that this information should be public. Orange County Superior Court Judge Luis Rodriguez sided with the other courts in ordering disclosure of the information in a lawsuit by the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility (with support from The Orange County Register). OCERS recently disclosed that it paid $29,000 to reimburse CFFR plus in-house counsel fees of $2,360 in the public records action loss.
Orly Taitz Gets Her Sanctions Stay Request to Be Entertained by Full U.S. Supreme Court.
If you have followed our blog for the last year or so, “birther” advocate Orly Taitz’s battles have been chronicled in this category in the past. You would know that she was sanctioned $20,000 by one federal court judge, with a lien being recorded/filed on August 16, 2010 after the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the sanctions award some time ago. In July 2010, she asked that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thomas stay the sanctions order, a request that was denied. Ms. Taitz then asked Justice Alito to do the same. On August 10, 2010, he decided that the request would be referred to the entire court for a decision. So stay tuned—there is will be more on this one!
![[Government official seated at his desk wearing head phones and tuning small radio]](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3a40000/3a42000/3a42300/3a42372r.jpg)
Stay Tuned.
Lake Forest BodyCentre Will Appeal Orange County Superior Court’s Decision Awarding Fees and Costs to City of Lake Forest under California’s Red Light Abatement Act.
Statue of unknown sex worker.
Amsterdam.

On July 21, 2010, Orange County Superior Court Judge David Chaffee awarded City of Lake Forest $456,962 in attorney’s fees and $45,000 in costs, which were assessed against Lake Forest BodyCentre under the state’s Red Light Abatement Act, not long after the city shut the business down for conducting prostitution and lewd acts—as reported by Erika I. Ritchie in an August 20 article in The Orange County Register.
The appellants in the case have decided to bond the award while the appeal is processed before the Fourth District, Division 3. According to an attorney representing the city, this is seventh appeal filed by the BodyCentre defendants, while appellants’ counsel expresses confidence in a reversal. I guess we will have a future post on this situation.
BLOG OBSERVATION—Co-contributors Marc and Mike prosecuted and defended a contract/trade secrets trial before Judge Chaffee within the last year. They enjoyed the experience, winning across the board—with even the principal of plaintiff/cross-defendants admitting in open court that Judge Chaffee was fair in the way he conducted the entire trial.
BLOG BONUS – Red Light District Tourist Guide, Amsterdam.