M&M Media Group v. ACE Outdoor Advertising CA2/4

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff M&M Media Group, Inc. (M&M) owns a building on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California, that houses the famed music venue “Whisky a Go Go” (the Whiskey). Atop the building is a billboard structure that, as relevant here, M&M leased to defendant Regency Outdoor Advertising, Inc. (Regency). When M&M terminated the lease, and entered a new lease with cross- complainant Ace Outdoor Advertising, Inc. (Ace), Regency initially refused to recognize the termination of its lease, and later asserted ownership of horizontal beams affixing the billboard structure to the roof of the Whiskey. The dispute resulted in M&M (as plaintiff) and Ace (as a cross-complainant) suing Regency for various causes of action, and Regency cross-complaining against M&M and Ace. In a court trial, M&M prevailed on its claims against Regency for breach of a lease agreement and intentional interference with business advantage, and Ace prevailed on its claims for interference with contract and prospective business advantage. The trial court awarded compensatory damages of $676,000 to M&M and $302,932.50 to Ace, and punitive damages to M&M and Ace in the same amounts. Regency appeals from…