CITY OF NORCO V. MUGAR: REINFORCING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF CITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND

摘要

City of Norco v. Mugar does not merely reinforce the legal authority of cities to rely on outside counsel and seek reimbursement of their costs in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of the public; the decision also showcases how these are necessary goods in the complicated, cost-conscious world of municipal litigation. Cities continuously have unfunded state and other mandates placed upon them, face increased expenses across the board, and often struggle to keep up with those costs. Cities, and their taxpayers, simply cannot bear the costs of abating nuisances on private property, nor is it just and equitable to expect this of them, as public policy has made very clear.