Travis v. Brand
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The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the court of appeal affirming an award of attorney's fees under Cal. Gov. Code 91003(a) to a prevailing defendant, holding that a prevailing defendant under the Political Reform Act "should not be awarded fees and costs unless the court finds the action was objectively without foundation when brought, or the plaintiff continued to litigate after it clearly became so."
Plaintiffs, two residents of the City of Redondo Beach, sought injunctive relief against certain supporters of a local initiative to compel their compliance with the Political Reform Act. The trial court ruled in favor of Defendants on all claims and awarded Defendants costs and attorney's fees as prevailing parties under 91003(a). The court of appeal affirmed the award of attorney's fees, holding that the statute grants trial courts discretion to award attorney's fees and costs to either a plaintiff or a defendant who prevailed. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that section 91003(a) imposes an asymmetrical standard, which constrains the trial court's discretion to award a prevailing defendant attorney's fees.
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