Antelope Valley Groundwater Cases Antelope Valley-east Kern Water Agency v. L. A. Cnty. Waterworks Dist. No. 40, Cross

*608 Nearly 20 years ago, the first of numerous lawsuits was filed which ultimately became this consolidated proceeding known as the Antelope Valley Groundwater Adjudication (AVGA) cases. In 2004, lawyers with the law offices of Best, Best & Krieger, LLP (BB&K), who were representing another public entity interested in the AVGA cases, were asked to also undertake prosecuting the interests of respondent Los Angeles County Water District No. 40 (District No. 40). BB&K agreed and began representing District No. 40 in 2004 and has continued in that role to the present time.

Appellant Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency (AVEK) 1 was not a named party in any of the lawsuits in the early years. AVEK had an existing relationship with BB&K: AVEK had retained BB&K in 1987 to act as AVEK's general counsel, and Michael Riddell, a member of BB&K, acted as general counsel for AVEK from 1987 until January 2016.

Approximately two years after BB&K began representing District No. 40, AVEK became enmeshed in the AVGA cases. AVEK retained separate attorneys to protect its interests in that litigation. Ten years later, after the bulk of the AVGA litigation was completed, AVEK decided to terminate…