Local Ordinance, Appellate Courts, State and Local Government

California Court Clarifies Limits of Charter City Exemptions from Prevailing Wage Law

Hanson Bridgett on 8/27/2025

In a decision with important implications for developers and charter cities alike, the California Court of Appeal held in Palm Springs Promenade, LLC v. Department of Industrial Relations that a city’s contribution of funds...more

Fifth Appellate District Agrees that Special Taxes Enacted by Initiative Do Not Require Two-Thirds Supermajority Vote.

Perkins Coie on 1/6/2021

Another court of appeal has held that local special taxes adopted by a citizen-sponsored initiative do not require two-thirds voter approval. City of Fresno v. Fresno Building Healthy Communities, No. F080264. (5th Dist.,...more

CEQA Year in Review 2020

Perkins Coie on 1/4/2021

A Summary of Published Appellate Opinions Involving the California Environmental Quality Act - Despite relatively few published opinions this year, there were significant appellate court rulings on a range of topics,...more

Lawyers and Judges Battle over COVID-19

McDermott Will & Schulte on 12/18/2020

Requests for COVID-19-related trial delays can lead to strife between lawyers and judges—and crazy things can happen. We see this most recently in San Bernadino, California, where a civil jury trial has been interrupted in...more

Industrial Waste Landfill/Nonconforming Use: Minnesota Appellate Court Addresses Whether "Maintenance" Constitutes "Use"

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,... on 12/15/2020

The Court of Appeals of Minnesota (“Court”) in a December 7th Opinion addressed a zoning issue associated with an industrial waste landfill. See AIM Development (USA), LLC v. City of Sartell, 2020 WL 7134863...more

Completion of Construction Did Not Render Suit for Violation of Public Bidding Laws Moot

Perkins Coie on 12/4/2020

A claim that a contract for construction of a school violated public bidding requirements did not become moot after construction was completed because effective relief — in the form of disgorgement of public funds paid to the...more

Anti-SLAPP Motion May Not Be Based on Speech Activities Merely Incidental to Asserted Claims

Perkins Coie on 11/26/2020

An anti-SLAPP motion was properly denied because the claims for damages arose from breach of contract and tort actions, not from any protected First Amendment activity. Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal, LLC v City of...more

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