PARTIAL LIST OF CASES

Following is a partial list of cases handled by Robert P. Silverstein involving eminent domain, CEQA, land use litigation, and municipal law:

•  LAUSD
Represented owner of 21-unit apartment building in Huntington Park.   Los Angeles Unified School District filed complaint in eminent domain to acquire property for a new school site.   Increased LAUSD's payment from $735,000 to $1.3 million (77% increase over initial offer).

•  State of California (Caltrans)

Represented three churches in Westchester, near L.A. Int'l Airport. Caltrans (Dept. of Highways) filed a complaint in eminent domain to acquire an easement on church property, and offered $25,000 as probable just compensation. Using special evidentiary valuation rules for religious institutions, Robert P. Silverstein argued for damages of $250,000. In response, Caltrans abandoned the acquisition, left the property untouched, and paid all of the churches' attorney fees and costs.

•  City of Palmdale
Represented property owner in a three-week eminent domain jury trial. Helped to obtain jury verdict more than 20 times the condemning agency's initial appraisal, plus court-ordered award of litigation expenses and attorney fees. Robert P. Silverstein was featured throughout California on the front page of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals for this outcome.

•  City of Rancho Cucamonga
Represented property owner in eminent domain action filed by Rancho Cucamonga for street realignment project impacting railroad project.   Successfully argued that City's complaint was invalid because of failure to comply with Public Utilities Commission jurisdiction over crossing. Judge dismissed City's case in open court.   City paid all of client's attorney fees and costs.

•  City of Beverly Hills
Represented neighborhood community group in action which forced City of Beverly Hills to abandon planned zone change along 12 blocks of Wilshire Blvd.   Project would have enabled four existing office buildings, totaling 750,000 square feet, to convert to high density residential use.   Reduced original project to one building, and then filed a lawsuit over the one-building spot zone.   Reached settlement involving significant concessions from developer and City including occupancy restrictions, traffic restrictions, elimination of balconies for noise and privacy protection of neighbors, specialized asbestos removal procedures, restriction on "open space" areas, perpetual restrictive covenants running with the land, and payment of attorney fees and costs.

•  City of Beverly Hills
Represent alliance of homeowners, commercial property owners, and business owners opposed to massive hotel and condominium project at Wilshire Blvd. and Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills.  Filed lawsuit alleging City's violations of California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") regarding defective Environmental Impact Report ("EIR").   Also alleged causes of action for violation of Brown Act (California Open Meetings Law), zoning and land use laws, and Statutory Development Agreement Act. Case is currently on appeal.

•  City of Beverly Hills
In connection with above-described hotel project, filed separate lawsuit against the City Council of Beverly Hills for violation of California Public Records Act ("CPRA").   City had withheld secret documents related to the project.   After completing trial, the Judge ordered the City to disclose 56 of 63 documents totaling hundreds of pages of key environmental and economic data.   The Judge also ordered the City to pay $70,000 in attorney fees for having violated the CPRA.

•  City of Los Angeles
Represent neighborhood association opposed to park expansion project which would cause adverse noise, lighting and safety impacts on community.   Filed lawsuit against City of Los Angeles alleging violation of CEQA by City's failure to properly study project's environmental impacts and by adopting Notice of Exemption before project approval, in violation of CEQA Guidelines. City withdrew project approvals, modified project to eliminate disputed elements, and paid half of client's attorney fees as compromise. 

•  City of Los Angeles
Represented developer of gasoline service station expanding site to include quick serve retail and drive-through restaurant.  Helped client obtain zone change, offsite parking by way of long-term lease in lieu of covenant, and conditional use permit. Worked with Mayor's development team and Councilwoman's office.  Resolved complicated issues with Planning Dept., Bureau of Engineering, Building & Safety, and Dept. of Transportation. Using constitutional arguments, defeated Bureau of Engineering's request that Zoning Administrator condition approval of project on forced "dedication" of portion of client's property and closure of one of client's driveways.

•  City of West Hollywood
Represented alliance of homeowners, commercial property owners, and business owners opposed to massive hotel and condominium project on Sunset Blvd.  Engaged in preparation of CEQA objections and filed lawsuit against City and developer, which is pending.

•  City of Pasadena
Based on CEQA objections, defeated expansion of private school's athletic field, including proposed installation of 70-foot-high pole lights for night games in residential neighborhood. Also required school to erect sound attenuating barrier at school's cost for benefit of neighbors.