Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Golden State Water Co. v. Casitas Municipal Water Dist. (Cal. Ct. App. - April 14, 2015)

I rarely read appellate opinions with the level of vigor and emphasis that Justice Perren displays in this opinion.  It's almost as though he believes respondents' position even more than they do.

Justice Perren analogizes appellant -- the Golden State Water Company -- to a monopolist and to King George III.  That's never a good sign for your side.  Suffice it to say that Justice Perren is on the side of the voters of the City of Ojai.  Who've decided to use eminent domain to take the water assets of Golden State and to pay for it with Mello-Roos bonds.

The Court of Appeal is fine with that.  And Justice Perren seems affirmatively enthusiastic about it.