Landlord/Tenant, Reasonableness Of Fees: $358,133.56 In Fees Against Tenant Operating Two Illegal Marijuana Dispensaries Affirmed On Appeal

Two Law Firms’ Requests Were Largely Sustained By Reviewing Court.

            City of Santa Ana v. Yuh, Case No. G060889 (4^th Dist., Div. 3 Jan. 24, 2023) (unpublished) was a situation where a tenant lost an abatement action against the City of Santa Ana for operating two illegal marijuana dispensaries.  Two firms representing the City moved for attorneys’ fees, with the trial judge—after some reductions—awarding $358,133.56 against tenant.  In an opinion authored by Justice Sanchez, the fee awards were confirmed because the tenant did not specify objections to the fee requests.  After all, the trial judge did make some reductions.  This is yet another opinion showing the potential “bite” of fee exposure to tenants in these types of disputes.