La Mirada Ave. Neighborhood Ass'n of Hollywood v. City of L. A.

*1152Under *342Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5,1 a trial court may award attorney's fees to the "successful party" in a lawsuit that "has resulted in the enforcement of an important right affecting the public interest" if, among other things, the lawsuit confers "a significant benefit" upon "the general public or a large class of persons." If a party is "successful" and has conferred a "significant benefit" by prevailing at trial and obtaining a judgment that a construction project violates the zoning laws in existence at the time, is that party precluded from obtaining attorney's fees under…