Goldrich, Kest & Stern v. City of San Fernando

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

This matter is before the Court on the motion of City of San Fernando (“San Fernando” or “City”) for attorney’s fees. Plaintiff Goldrich, Kest & Stern (“Developer”) filed this suit in April, 1982, alleging a number of civil rights violations. On March 14, 1985 the Court granted City’s motion for summary judgment in its entirety; a Memorandum Decision (“Decision”) entered on May 28, 1985, explained the Court’s ruling. The City now seeks those attorney’s fees incurred in the preparation of defense of this action. Having carefully considered the voluminous record in this case, the Court finds that defendant City is entitled to recover attorney’s fees in the sum of $57,537. To that extent, the Court hereby GRANTS City’s motion.

Facts

Developer owns several contiguous parcels of undeveloped realty (the Herrick Manor property) located within the city lim its of both San Fernando and of Los Angeles. Although already subdivided, Developer sought to resubdivide the property and looked to develop a high density, low and moderate income housing project on the site.

Since 1929, and at the time Developer purchased the Herrick Manor property, the San Fernando portion…