Edna Valley Watch v. County of San Luis Obispo

Opinion

GILBERT, P. J.

Here we hold a party may receive attorney’s fees incurred in an administrative hearing. The trial court denied a portion of appellants’ attorney’s fees requested under Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5, the private attorney general statute.1 The court also denied one party’s attorney’s fees incurred in a petition for writ of mandate because of the party’s personal stake in the litigation. We reverse.

Section 1021.5 allows attorney’s fees in administrative proceedings. In addition, a party may not be disqualified from receiving attorney’s fees because of his personal…