Enterprise Counsel Group, A Law Corporation
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Enterprise Counsel Group Wins Again!
Orange County Great Park Corporation Must Pay Attorneys’ Fees
June 30, 2009 — Benjamin P. Pugh, a partner of Enterprise Counsel Group, representing Irvine City Council Members Christina Shea and Steven Choi, prevailed today in a published opinion from the Court of Appeal ordering the Orange County Great Park Corporation to pay Choi and Shea their attorneys’ fees. Choi and Shea, who are also directors of the Great Park Corporation, were illegally denied access to important documents concerning the corporation’s controversial and much-criticized search for a new CEO. ECG sued on behalf of Choi and Shea and prevailed, obtaining an order requiring the Great Park Corporation to provide Choi and Shea all the documents they requested and any future documents generated or collected regarding the CEO search.
The Court of Appeal’s published opinion confirms the important public benefit achieved by ECG’s lawsuit. As Justice Rylaarsdam explained:
“Given the checkered history of the CEO search and the ongoing public criticism of the “revolving door of Great Park executives” (Barboza, Irvine council members question Great Park CEO search, L.A. Times (Feb. 6, 2008)), the method used for selection of the CEO should be beyond reproach. Plaintiffs’ request for documents to determine how the search had been conducted to date was an act to maintain the integrity of the process itself, a significant benefit to the public, protecting its interest.”
Further Reading:
Red County blog: Larry Agran & Great Park Are Rebuked By The Court Of Appeal
From Frank Mikadeit: Court calls out Agran's tactics
OC Register: Great Park will pay up to $80,000 in attorney's fees