Cases

In a published opinion, the Second District Court of Appeal granted GMSR’s petition for a writ of mandate on behalf of the County of Los Angeles and its Health Officers.  The Court reversed a superior court injunction barring the County from enforcing a Covid-19 pandemic outdoor restaurant dining ban until the County provided the superior court with a “risk-benefit” analysis that the superior court would find acceptable.  The Court of Appeal held that the County’s health order was subject to rational-basis review by the courts and easily met that test.  The opinion reaffirmed the principle that courts should be extremely deferential to public health decisions in the midst of a pandemic.  This was a major case for public entities dealing with challenges to many facets of their health orders.

See the Court of Appeal Opinion.