Judge: Stephen I. Goorvitch, Case: 23STCP30909, Date: 2025-06-13 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STCP30909    Hearing Date: June 13, 2025    Dept: 82

Coalition for a Scenic Los Angeles v. City of Los Angeles

Case No. 23STCP30909

[Tentative] Order Staying Non-Writs Claims

            Petitioner Coalition for a Scenic Los Angeles (“Petitioner”) filed this action against the City of Los Angeles (the “City” or “Respondent”) asserting the following writs causes of action: (1) Two causes of action for violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and (2) Violation of Los Angeles City Charter section 551.  Petitioner also asserts non-writs causes of action for: (1) Violation of the California Constitution, Article I, section 1, which governs the right to privacy; (2) Illegal and Wasteful Expenditure of Public Funds under Code of Civil Procedure section 526a; and (3) Declaratory Judgment (two causes of action).  Petitioner and the real party in interest, Trazito-Vector, LLC (the “Real Party”) have reached a resolution of the CEQA claims.  If the City Council approves the settlement agreement, Petitioner intends to dismiss the non-CEQA claims. 

            Based upon the foregoing, the court orders as follows:

            1.         The court issues an Order to Show Cause re: Dismissal (Settlement) on the CEQA claims.  The court shall hold the OSC hearing on October 17, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

            2.         Pursuant to the order to show cause issued on June 3, 2025, the court stays trial on the second, third, and fourth causes of action.  As a practical matter, these causes of action have been stayed since the case was filed on October 31, 2022, because pursuant to Local Rules 2.8 and 2.9, these causes of action must be tried in an independent calendar court.  Therefore, the court’s stay shall be retroactive to October 31, 2022. 

            3.         The court’s clerk shall provide notice.