In Priceline.com Inc. v. City of Anaheim the California Court of Appeals, Fourth District issued a decision interpreting the so called Clancy doctrine.

In the California Supreme Court’s ruling in Clancy v. Superior Court, (1985) 39 Cal. 3d 740, 746-51 the Court provided a framework for, when, and if, a public entity has the authority to hire an attorney on a contingent fee basis to try a civil case.