SOS

Petitioner, Save Open Space Santa Monica Mountains (SOS), sought attorney fees under California’s “private attorney general” statue. The lawsuit concerned proposed land development in an area known as Stokes Canyon. To meet petitioner’s claim for an award of “private attorney general” attorney fees, real parties in interest sought to discover the financial obligations and contributions of Stokes Canyon residents relative to the employment of the SOS attorneys. The superior court granted an order denying, in part, SOS’s ensuing motion to quash and for a protective order. We find that real parties have sufficiently established the need for discovery but limits the scope of such discovery to assure protection of the constitutional right of those joining SOS’s cause. We will therefore issue a peremptory writ directing the superior court to enter an order that limits the manner in which the amount of contributions and the identity of contributors are disclosed.

I. Factual and Procedural History

SOS is a nonprofit organization founded in 1989. According to its mission statement, SOS is devoted to maintaining open space, protecting wildlife, and preserving natural resources,…