$1,286,144.37 Fee Award Against City Reversed And Remanded.
Coalition of Pacificans for An Updated Plan v. City Council of the City of Pacifica, Case No. A170704 (1st Dist., Div. 4 Dec. 30, 2025) (partially published; substantive fee discussion published) stands for the proposition that in fashioning a private attorney general fee award under CCP § 1021.5, a lower court must take into account specific factors outlined under the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) where it applies, even in a CEQA case. The appellate court indicated that environmental factors can be considered in setting a fee under the HAA. This resulted in a $1,286,144.37 fee award against City being reversed and remanded for a restudy using HAA factors.
