Paramount Contractors etc. v. City of Los Angeles CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

Paramount Contractors & Developers, Inc. sued the City of Los Angeles over the City’s denial of, or refusal to, process applications for permits to display signs containing on-site business advertising and political messages on two office buildings in Hollywood. Paramount appeals from the judgment after the trial court granted the City’s motion for summary judgment, ruling Paramount did not have, and would not be able to obtain, evidence it submitted permit applications for signs containing on-site business advertising or political messages. Paramount argues the court erred in ruling the City’s evidence, which related mainly to applications for off-site and supergraphic signage, met the City’s initial burden on summary judgment. Paramount also argues that, even if the City shifted the burden to Paramount to create a triable issue of material fact, the court erred in ruling Paramount did not meet its burden and in discounting Paramount’s evidence as “self-serving.” We agree with Paramount on both points and reverse.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Paramount Sues the City over Denial of Signage Permit Applications As we have explained,1 the Los Angeles…