Lawyers for the San Diego County Water Authority on Monday wrapped up their case against the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, concluding a five-day trial with more than $2 billion at stake for county residents. Judge Curtis E. A. Karnow requested post-trial briefs from both parties by Jan. 17, with a hearing on those briefs scheduled for Jan. 23. Following the Jan. 23 hearing, Judge Karnow will take the matter under submission before issuing his decision.
Category Archives: Metropolitan Water District
Court rules San Diego should be represented at MWD closed door meetings on Preferential Rights litigation
(San Francisco, CA) — In a decision that validates the San Diego County Water Authority’s belief that it is unfair and illegal to exclude San Diego representation at closed door meetings of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a San Francisco Superior Court judge today ruled that a representative of the Water Authority must be present to protect its interests at all future closed door meetings at MWD on the pending preferential rights litigation. The Water Authority is one of 26 member public agencies of MWD.
Water Authority board seeks legal clarification of water it can depend upon from MWD
The San Diego County Water Authority board of directors today voted to seek legal clarification of an antiquated formula used by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to calculate the amount of water to which each of MWD's member agencies is legally entitled. The lawsuit is an attempt to bring closure to decades of uncertainty surrounding “preferential rights” to water from MWD and to ensure that the amount of water the Water Authority has rights to more accurately reflects payments it has made to MWD.
Water Authority Prevails in Open Meetings Lawsuit
Superior Court Judge John S. Meyer ruled in favor of the San Diego County Water Authority on July 20, 2018, in a lawsuit that erroneously alleged the agency was violating the state’s primary open meetings statute, known as the Brown Act. San Diegans for Open Government, represented by Cory Briggs, sued the Water Authority on June 12, 2017, claiming violations of the Brown Act. Briggs asserted that the four delegates appointed by the Water Authority to the Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors were a “legislative body” under the Brown Act. Under that incorrect theory, Briggs argued that any time […]
Secretary of the Interior Babbitt to sign historic Colorado River agreement
The final major component of a plan to reduce California’s dependence on Colorado River water is set for implementation when the Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, signs the Record of Decision for Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria. The Secretary will sign the agreement at a ceremony hosted by the San Diego County Water Authority at 10 a.m. Jan. 16, at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort 2000 Second St., Coronado, Calif.