California Outdoor Equity Partners, LLC v. City of Los Angeles

Proceedings: DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS COMPLAINT (Dkt. 14, filed August 31, 2015)

I. INTRODUCTION

On June 10, 2015, plaintiffs California Outdoor Equity Partners, LLC, AMG Outdoor Advertising, and J. Keith Stephens (collectively, “plaintiffs”) filed suit against defendant City of Los Angeles (“the City”) alleging that the City’s restrictions on off-site commercial billboards (1) violate plaintiffs’ free speech rights under Article I, Section 2(a) of the California Constitution and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and (2) violate plaintiffs’ equal protection rights under Article I, Section 7(a) of California Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. See Compl.

On August 31, 2015, defendant City of Los Angeles filed a motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Dkt. 14. Plaintiffs filed an opposition to defendant’s motion on September 30, 2015, and defendant replied on October 5, 2015. Dkts. 16, 19. Having carefully considered the parties’ arguments, the Court finds' and concludes as follows.

II. BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs allege that they are licensed by the State of…