Who is Meyers Nave?

Lodi

May 5

According to Steve Mann’s recent “Investigation” in About Town for Tuesday May 6, 2024: (subscribers get to read it the day before. Look for it in the Lodi News on Tuesday…)

…law firm Meyers Nave was hired at the request of City Attorney Katie Lucchesi to “advise the city in connection with employment matters regarding the city Manager.” The city council is expected to approve an amendment to the agreement that will allow Meyers Nave to hire investigators to “facilitate personnel investigations,”…

Meyers Nave

Meyers Nave is a full-service law firm based in California, with its largest office in Oakland and additional locations throughout the state. The firm provides comprehensive legal services in areas such as transactions, litigation, regulatory compliance, and general counsel work, serving a diverse client base that includes corporations, government entities, non-profits, and public-private partnerships.

Founded with a focus on public sector and high-profile legal matters, Meyers Nave is known for its work in areas like eminent domain, land use, pro bono litigation, and public interest cases. The firm is recognized for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within its workplace and in the broader legal community, and it actively supports community service and social responsibility initiatives. Meyers Nave employs around 44 attorneys and has about 16 partners across five offices.

Overall, Meyers Nave stands out as a prominent California law firm with a strong public sector focus, a reputation for legal excellence, and a deep commitment to community engagement

What notable cases has Meyers Nave Handled?

Meyers Nave has handled a number of high-profile and precedent-setting cases across California, spanning areas such as public sector litigation, environmental law, land use, crisis management, and commercial disputes. Some of their most notable cases include:

PG&E San Bruno Pipeline Explosion: Meyers Nave served as Special Counsel to the City of San Bruno following the 2010 PG&E natural gas pipeline explosion. Their work contributed to a record $1.6 billion fine against PG&E-the largest ever levied against a utility in the United States-and led to multiple state and federal investigations, as well as significant reforms and settlements totaling $126 million for the city.

Sacramento Kings Downtown Arena: The firm successfully defended the City of Sacramento against all legal challenges to the $477 million downtown arena for the Sacramento Kings. This included victories in eminent domain, environmental (CEQA), and constitutional law, culminating in the dismissal of all claims after an 11-day trial. The case was recognized among the “Top Defense Results” of the year by The Daily Journal.

Berkeley Hillside Preservation v. City of Berkeley: Meyers Nave represented Lotus founder Mitch Kapor and his wife in a landmark California Supreme Court case on CEQA exemptions. The decision clarified the standard for when “unusual circumstances” require environmental review, resolving a split among appellate courts and establishing a new two-part legal test.

Los Angeles County Environmental Protection: Meyers Nave achieved a significant victory for Los Angeles County in a case involving illegal dumping of construction debris in the Santa Susana Mountains. The court awarded $6.6 million in attorneys’ fees, sanctions, and civil penalties, and issued a permanent injunction to halt illegal dumping.

Aliso Canyon/Porter Ranch Gas Leak: The firm assisted Los Angeles County during the largest methane gas leak in U.S. history, securing a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction that allowed thousands of displaced families to remain in alternative housing during the crisis.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Expansion: Meyers Nave represented the medical center in a breach-of-contract dispute with Turner Construction over a $380 million hospital expansion, ultimately reaching a collaborative settlement to complete the project with capped costs.

UCLA Luskin Conference Center: The firm helped UCLA “bulletproof” the environmental review for the $162 million Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference and Guest Center, successfully defending against CEQA and other legal challenges through a series of courtroom victories.

Trade Secret Litigation: Meyers Nave obtained a Temporary Restraining Order in federal court to protect a client’s trade secrets in the luxury watch industry, enforcing the Defend Trade Secrets Act and stopping unfair competition by former employees.

City of Palmdale Catastrophic Rainstorm Defense: The firm defended the city against numerous claims following a 1-in-1000-year rainstorm, securing dismissals and favorable settlements by establishing the storm as an intervening cause.

Adult Entertainment Business Injunction: Meyers Nave won a permanent injunction to close an unlawful adult entertainment business in San Diego County after a protracted legal battle, also assisting the city in updating its ordinances.

These cases demonstrate Meyers Nave’s expertise in handling complex, high-stakes litigation for public entities, private clients, and major infrastructure projects throughout California[1].