In Rickley v. County of Los Angeles, 2011 DJDAR 12634 (2011), the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit held that a successful civil rights plaintiff may recover a reasonable attorney fee, even when represented by a spouse.

The plaintiff and her attorney were married and owned property where they both resided. Commencing in 2001, the couple jointly initiated complaints to the County of Los Angeles regarding their neighbors’ improper land use. A permanent injunction was eventually issued against the neighbors. However, the couple continued to complain to the County, which allegedly did not take further action.