Private Attorney General: Where Prior Prevailing Parties Had Their Rulings Abrogated By Legislative Action Resulting In A Reversal Of Prior Opinions, They Were Not Successful Under CCP § 1021.5

Prior Opinions In Plaintiffs’ Favor Had No Precedential Value.

In Make UC A Good Neighbor et al. v. Regents of University of California, Case No. A172510 (1^st Dist., Div. 5 Dec. 19, 2025) (published), the appellate court affirmed that plaintiffs were not “successful” parties for private attorney general purposes despite winning favorable appellate precedents at earlier junctures. The problem was that the Legislature abrogated these precedents, with the California Supreme Court granting review and reversing both prior, favorable opinions.