Covenant Media of California, L.L.C. v. City of Huntington Park

Proceedings: (IN CHAMBERS): PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO RECOVER ITS ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS (filed March 7, 2006)

Plaintiff Covenant Media of California, L.L.C. (“Covenant”) is in the business of “erecting and operating advertising signs that are utilized by businesses, churches, organizations and individuals to communicate commercial and noncommercial messages.” On April 19, 2005, plaintiff filed this action against the City of Huntington Park, California (“the City”), challenging the City’s rejection of Covenant’s applications to post advertising signs at various locations throughout the City. Specifically, plaintiff contended that the City’s sign regulation, codified at Title 9, Chapter 3, Article 9, § 9-3.1201, et seq. (“the Prior Sign Ordinance”) was unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as under Article 1, section 2 of the California Constitution.

On May 18, 2005, plaintiff filed a motion for preliminary injunction, requesting that the Court enter an order preliminarily enjoining enforcement of the Prior Sign Ordinance. Thereafter, the City repealed the Prior Sign Ordinance, and enacted Ordinance 754-NS, codified…