The parties in a pending Sacramento Superior Court action, Tos, et. al. v. California High Speed Rail Authority, et al., have submitted supplemental briefing in preparation for a hearing next week.  The supplemental briefing addresses the Court’s uncertainty as to whether the issuance of a writ of mandate invalidating the High Speed Rail Authority’s (“Authority”) funding plan should undermine the Authority’s subsequent approvals for the high-speed rail project (“project”).  The Court will issue a tentative ruling on November 7, and both parties will appear for the hearing on this question on November 8 at 9:00 a.m.

A ruling invalidating the funding plan could effectively invalidate the approvals made under that that plan, which in turn may have adverse consequences for the entire project, including potentially fatal delays.