City of Los Angeles v. Standard Oil Co.

The complaint seeks a declaration that a statute enacted by the Legislature in 1964 relating to contribution among tortfeasors responsible for the Baldwin Hill Reservoir disaster in December 1963 1 is constitutional. Although several oil companies and other persons are named as defendants in the complaint, only respondent Standard Oil Company of California appeared in the action. The demurrer of respondent was sustained on the sole ground that the statute is unconstitutional in that it is special legislation based upon an invalid classification. The trial court entered a judgment declaring…