BB&K's New Law Guidance for a Happy New Year -
In Part Three of our “In With the New” series, BB&K covers important new legislation related to CEQA, development fees, housing, planning, zoning, public contracts and waste...more
BB&K's New Law Guidance for a Happy New Year -
At the start of each new year, Best Best & Krieger LLP provides critical legal updates for public agencies and businesses based on new laws and court decisions from the...more
Bill to Allow Lot Splits and Two-Unit Projects By-Right in Single-Family Zones Passes in Legislature and Awaits Governor Approval -
The California State Legislature has passed the widely discussed Senate Bill 9, which...more
New CPRA Case Law and Legislation for 2021 -
While an expansive array of records can be sought via a California Public Records Act request, the right to inspect public records is not without limits. The CPRA does not give...more
California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiffs Must Establish “Dilution” to Successfully Challenge At-Large Voting Systems Under CVRA -
Recently, the City of Santa Monica prevailed in a California Appellate Court case that...more
A California Appellate Court Draws a Distinction between the Power of a Court to Rule —“Jurisdiction”— and the Proper Place for a CPRA Suit —“Venue”
Any trial court in the state may have jurisdiction over a California...more
California Public Records Act Provision Permitting Public Agencies to Charge for “Extraction” Analyzed -
Government agencies are prohibited from charging a fee to redact police body camera footage in response to a...more
5/31/2020
/ Body Worn Cameras ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Electronically Stored Information ,
Fees ,
Law Enforcement ,
Police ,
Police Brutality ,
Police Misconduct ,
Public Access Laws ,
Public Records ,
Redacted Documents ,
Request For Information ,
Right To Know ,
State and Local Government ,
Transparency
California Public Agencies Struggle with CPRA Compliance -
Public agencies are likely grappling with California Public Records Act request challenges — especially deadlines and document access limitations — during the...more
Part 2: New CPRA Laws for 2020 -
While an expansive array of records can be sought via a California Public Records Act request, the right to inspect public records is not without limits. The CPRA does not give unlimited...more
1/16/2020
/ Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Ballots ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Constructive Possession ,
Exemptions ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Municipalities ,
Public Agencies ,
Public Disclosure ,
Public Records ,
Public Records Act ,
Request For Information ,
San Francisco ,
State and Local Government ,
Undocumented Immigrants
Part 1: New CPRA Laws for 2020 -
While an expansive array of records can be sought via a California Public Records Act request, the right to inspect public records is not without limits. The CPRA does not give unlimited...more
1/16/2020
/ Audio Recording ,
Body Worn Cameras ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Charter Schools ,
Educational Institutions ,
Law Enforcement ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Police ,
Police Dash-Cameras ,
Police Misconduct ,
Public Disclosure ,
Public Records ,
Public Records Act ,
Request For Information ,
State and Local Government ,
Tribal Lands ,
Video Recordings
Calif. Supreme Court: San Diegans for Open Government v. Public Facilities Financing Authority of the City of San Diego -
Only a party to a contract may bring a legal action under Government Code section 1092 to invalidate...more
1/6/2020
/ Appeals ,
Breach of Duty ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Cal Code of Civil Procedure ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Contract Drafting ,
Contract Terms ,
Non-Parties ,
Private Right of Action ,
Prohibited Transactions ,
Public Employees ,
Public Finance ,
Public Officials ,
Standing ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Statutory Violations
A trial court has issued a conflicting decision on a controversial new California law that makes some police records publicly available. Public agencies, though, should continue to follow the ruling made previously by an...more
While the Ralph M. Brown Act provides a “committee exception” to the public comment requirement for public entities’ regular meetings, the exception does not apply to special meetings, a California appellate court said in a...more