Steadman
Steadman v. Osborne
Opinion
Opinion
Hollenhorst, J.
I. INTRODUCTION
Defendant and Appellant Clyde B. Osborne, Sr., appeals from the trial court’s denial of his motion to strike the ninth cause of action in the complaint filed by plaintiff and respondent Therese Steadman. Although Osborne raises a variety of contentions, we find one dispositive, and we therefore need not address the rest. We conclude Steadman does not have the right to prosecute her ninth cause of action as a private attorney general, and we will reverse.
II. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Valley Health Systems (VHS) is a local health care district in Riverside County that operates several hospitals. After the defeat of a bond measure in September 2006, VHS began exploring the sale of its assets, including its hospitals, to a private entity. In June 2007, VHS’s board of directors recommended such a sale, and in August 2007, VHS’s board of directors approved the proposed sale. However, the proposed sale of VHS assets required approval by the voters of the hospital district. (Health & Saf. Code, § 32121, subd. (p).) The proposed sale of VHS assets was submitted to the voters as Measure G in the November 2007 election.