Foothill Properties v. Lyon/Copley Corona Associates, L.P.

Foothill Properties (Foothill) appeals from the judgment in favor of, and granting attorney fees to, Lyon/Copley Corona Associates, L.P., Senior Corp., and L/C Development Corporation (collectively, Lyon), contending the trial court erroneously: (1) determined Lyon had fulfilled its mapping obligations under its contract with Foothill; and (2) awarded Lyon its attorney fees. In a consolidated appeal, Lyon contends the trial court erroneously awarded discovery sanctions against it. We affirm the judgment in favor of Lyon, including the attorney fees award, and reverse the order for sanctions.

In early 1990, Lyon purchased the eastern part of the Foothill Ranch in South Corona from Foothill (the purchase property) and entered into an option agreement for the western part (the option property). The City of Corona had approved a “specific plan” for the “orderly development” of the property, including a “phasing and public facility financing plan for the logical and orderly improvement” of the infrastructure systems. It had also approved a tentative tract map, TTM 25000, which subjected final approval to numerous conditions relating primarily to planning, designing and…