Wright

In June 1971, plaintiff commenced an action against the Compton Unified School District to recover compensation for legal services rendered. In its answer to the complaint defendant alleged, as an affirmative defense, that plaintiff’s claim was unenforceable because it constituted an indebtedness or liability in excess of the debt limitation set forth in California Constitution article XIII, section 40.

The parties stipulated that the action could be tried without a jury and that the court could render judgment on the basis of the pleadings and the following agreed statement of facts: at all times mentioned plaintiff was, and still is, an attorney licensed to practice law in California; on December 15, 1965, the Willowbrook School District was a duly organized school district, and continued to exist as such until July 1, 1970, when it joined other school districts to form the Compton Unified School District; prior to December 15, 1965, four of the officers and employees of the Willowbrook School District were named as defendants in a defamation action filed in the California Superior Court for Los Angeles County; each of these officers and employees requested, in…