Ali

Introduction

The City of Los Angeles (the City) appeals from a judgment in inverse condemnation in favor of Syed Mouzzam Ali (Ali).

The essential facts and procedural background are as follows: when All’s hotel, the Ferraro, was substantially destroyed by fire in November 1988, Ali desired to demolish it and sell the land. He applied for a demolition permit in January 1989. The City withheld the permit because officials believed the Ferraro was a single room occupancy (SRO) hotel, and the City had an ordinance prohibiting demolition of such low-income housing unless (1) it was infeasible to repair, or (2) the owner agreed to replace it with similar housing, or (3) the owner established extreme hardship for an exemption. Eventually, but not until August 1990, the City determined the Ferraro was not an SRO hotel and permitted its demolition. In the meantime, however, commencing in July 1989 a series of fires occurred in the abandoned building, the City determined that Ali was not providing adequate security, and the City contracted for 24-hour security with the costs assessed against Ali pursuant to an ordinance.

Ali filed an action against the City, which in part sought…