SMW Protects Parks and Greenbelt Along San Joaquin River
The firm successfully challenges in court Fresno County’s approval of 5,000 homes adjacent to the San Joaquin River Parkway. The firm is then able to negotiate a settlement that forces the developer to mitigate its project’s impacts on the parks and other public resources within the Parkway. (San Joaquin Parkway and Conservation Trust v. County […]
Local Land Use Rules Upheld
The firm obtains an appellate ruling upholding the City of Morgan Hill’s land use restrictions against a claim they unconstitutionally discriminated against an individual property owner. (Arcadia v. City of Morgan Hill, 197 Cal.App.4th 1526 (2011).)
Ninth Circuit Upholds Tribal Court Jurisdiction over Non-Indian Trespassers
The firm represents the Colorado River Indian Tribes in tribal court actions to regain lands from non-Indian holdover tenants, resulting in a watershed Ninth Circuit ruling upholding tribal court jurisdiction. (Water Wheel Camp Recreation Area, Inc. v. LaRance, 642 F.3d 802 (9th Cir. 2011).)
Defending the Public Purse Against Unfair Claims
On appeal, the firm secures the reversal of a potentially devastating attorneys’ fee award against the Silverado Modjeska Recreation and Parks District. (Silverado Modjeska Recreation and Parks District v. County of Orange, 197 Cal.App.4th 282 (2011).)
SMW Sues to Force County to Implement Voter Initiative
The firm prevails in a lawsuit forcing Solano County to comply with Measure E, an initiative that prohibits the importation of solid waste into the County’s landfills. (Sierra Club v. Solano County (2011).)
Settlement Protects Foresthill Community in Placer County
Photo Credit: jen, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 After filing litigation, the firm negotiates a settlement for the Foresthill community in Placer County that limits sprawl development on sensitive rural lands in a high fire risk area and provides protection for the American River. (Foresthill Residents for Responsible Growth v. Placer County (2011).)
SMW Defends Program for Protection of Farmland
The court of appeal upholds the authority of local governments to require dedication of conservation easements to mitigate the loss of farmland caused by new development. (Building Industry Assn. of Central California v. County of Stanislaus, 190 Cal. App. 4th 582 (2010).)
Takings Challenge to Mobile Home Rent Control Defeated
The firm obtains a landmark ruling from the Ninth Circuit, en banc, rejecting constitutional challenges to Goleta’s mobile home rent control ordinance, protecting an important source of affordable housing and preventing displacement. (Guggenheim v. City of Goleta, 638 F.3d 1111 (2010).)
SMW and California Trout Secure Greater Flows for Endangered Steelhead
As a result of litigation filed by the firm on behalf of California Trout, the owner of the Vern Freeman Diversion Dam agrees to allow greater water flows into the Santa Clara River to protect steelhead, an endangered migratory fish species. (California Trout, Inc. v. Bureau of Reclamation (2009).)
Stockton General Plan Litigation Leads to Adoption of Landmark Climate Action Plan
Photo credit: Eric Sonstroem, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 As a result of litigation filed by the firm challenging the City of Stockton’s General Plan update, and pressure from the state Attorney General’s office, the City agrees to prepare a Climate Action Plan, one of the earliest such plans in California. (Sierra Club v. City of Stockton […]