Squires

BACKGROUND

The Relationship This case arises out of an October 2010 lawsuit filed by plaintiffs against the city of Eureka (City) and various individuals connected with it (when referred to collectively, defendants). The relationship between plaintiffs and the City goes back many years, at least until the early 1990’s, when plaintiffs bought a property at 1429-1429½ Sunny

1 Avenue, Eureka (the Sunny Avenue property). By 2010, the time the subject lawsuit was filed, plaintiffs had acquired ownership of 26 properties, ownership that apparently led to much interaction between plaintiffs and City officials—and ultimately to the lawsuit here. As to that interaction, and what triggered what, the parties’ briefs do not agree. Plaintiffs’ brief begins as follows: “Since the filing of the present lawsuit, respondents’ behavior against petitioners has escalated. [Citation.] Shortly after petitioners filed this lawsuit, the City filed a lawsuit against petitioners attempting to appoint a receiver and gain control over all 26 of petitioners’ properties (all except petitioners’ personal residence) located within the City. [Citation.]” Defendants’ brief describes the setting this way:…