Urgent Care Medical Services v. City of Pasadena ( 2018 )


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  • Filed 3/5/18; Certified for Publication 3/28/18 (order attached)
    IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
    SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
    DIVISION FOUR
    URGENT CARE MEDICAL                                                B277827
    SERVICES, et al.,
    (Los Angeles County
    Plaintiffs and Appellants,                                Super. Ct. No. BC610250)
    v.
    CITY OF PASADENA,
    Defendant and Respondent.
    THE CITY OF PASADENA et al.,                                         B277868
    Plaintiffs and Respondents,                               (Los Angeles County
    Super. Ct. No. BC552019)
    v.
    MEDICAL CANNABIS
    CAREGIVERS INSTITUTE et al.,
    Defendants and Appellants.
    APPEAL from judgments of the Superior Court of
    Los Angeles County, M, Judge. Affirmed.
    Stanley Howard Kimmel for Urgent Care and Medical
    Cannabis Caregivers Institute.
    Michelle Beal Bagneris, Pasadena City Attorney, John W.
    Nam, Pasadena Assistant City Attorney; Colantuono, Highsmith
    & Whatley, Michael G. Colantuono, David J. Ruderman and Jon
    R. diCristina for the City of Pasadena.
    INTRODUCTION
    The City of Pasadena filed a nuisance abatement action
    against several businesses and individuals related to medical
    marijuana dispensaries, which are prohibited by the Pasadena
    Municipal Code (PMC). The defendants in that action later filed
    a lawsuit against the City of Pasadena, and the two cases were
    deemed related. In each of the two actions, the trial court
    granted Pasadena’s request for injunctions, prohibiting
    defendants from operating their medical marijuana dispensaries
    in Pasadena. The defendants appealed from each order, and we
    consolidated the appeals.
    On appeal, defendants assert three main arguments: that
    the relevant Pasadena Municipal Code ordinance sections do not
    render medical marijuana dispensaries a nuisance per se, one
    relevant ordinance section was not properly enacted, and counsel
    for Pasadena lacked authorization to bring the actions. We
    disagree on each point, and affirm.
    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
    On June 9, 2015, Pasadena and the People of the State of
    California (collectively, Pasadena) filed a second amended
    2
    complaint seeking injunctive relief and nuisance abatement.1
    Because this appeal arises from multiple superior court cases, we
    will refer to the action initiated by Pasadena as the injunction
    action. Pasadena named the following parties as defendants:
    Medical Cannabis Caregivers Institute, Good Leaf Collective,
    Landmark Research Collective, Liz McDuffie, Sunny Chan,
    Shaun Szameit, Karen Pike, Urban Farms Delivery, Liz
    McDuffie/Szameit Trust, and Pasadena ECB Mall, LLC. Golden
    State Collective was included as a defendant in the body of the
    complaint, but not listed on the title page. Pasadena’s complaint
    alleged that defendants were the owners, occupiers, and/or users
    of certain commercial properties that were “using the land and
    premises as a medical marijuana dispensary. The use of land
    and premises for a medical marijuana dispensary is prohibited by
    the Zoning Code of the City of Pasadena.” The complaint alleged
    that the use of the properties was in violation of various sections
    of the PMC, and was a nuisance per se and a public nuisance.
    Pasadena asked that defendants’ actions be abated and enjoined.
    On December 23, 2015 Pasadena moved ex parte for a
    temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction
    prohibiting defendants from violating the PMC’s Zoning Code by
    “operating a prohibited use, to wit, a medical marijuana
    dispensary . . . . Specifically, to provide, make available, or
    distribute medical marijuana to a primary caregiver, a qualified
    patient, or a person with an identifications [sic] card issued in
    accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section
    11362.5 et seq.” Pasadena asserted that PMC section 17.80.020M
    1Earlier versions of the complaint are not in the record on
    appeal. The superior court case summary included in the record
    indicates that the case was initially filed on July 23, 2014.
    3
    defined “medical marijuana dispensary (land use)” and within
    that definition stated, “This use is prohibited in the City of
    Pasadena.” Pasadena also stated that “Section 17.78.060A of the
    Zoning Code states in pertinent part that any use contrary to the
    code is unlawful and a public nuisance.” Pasadena also noted
    that other PMC sections defined violations of the PMC as
    nuisances.
    Pasadena’s application was supported by the declarations
    of David Reavis, a sergeant with the Pasadena Police
    Department, and Luis Lopez, an investigator for the city
    attorney/city prosecutor’s office. Both Reavis and Lopez stated
    that marijuana was being sold on the premises named in the
    injunction application.
    Defendants opposed the ex parte application for an
    injunction. They argued that the application was not supported
    by sufficient evidence because the Reavis and Lopez declarations
    contained hearsay. Defendants also argued there was no
    showing of immediate and irreparable harm. In addition,
    defendants asserted that Pasadena could not demonstrate a
    likelihood of success on the merits because the relevant Pasadena
    ordinance 7018, which was eventually codified as PMC section
    17.80.020, “was not adopted consistent with state law: no proper
    noticed hearing occurred, the matter was continued in violation of
    the Pasadena municipal code, and the substance was not
    addressed by the Planning Commission.”
    Defendants’ opposition was supported by the declaration of
    defendants’ attorney, Stanley H. Kimmel. Kimmel stated that
    the Planning Commission proposed a revision to the Zoning Code
    to define medical marijuana dispensaries on January 26, 2005.
    The Planning Commission then forwarded that recommendation
    4
    to the City Council, which noticed a hearing on the issue, but
    continued the hearing several times. Kimmel stated that the
    hearing regarding the proposed rule was eventually held on July
    18, 2005, and that the hearing was included in the agenda for the
    meeting on that date. Kimmel argued that the schedule for
    adoption of the ordinance violated hearing and notice
    requirements in the PMC. Kimmel also asserted that the initial
    language defined “medical marijuana dispensary,” but did not
    ban such a land use. Kimmel said that ordinance 7018, which
    included language prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries,
    was adopted without a required public hearing in September
    2005. Although Kimmel quoted several documents throughout
    his declaration, such as City Council agenda statements, none of
    the documents is included as an exhibit.
    On February 16, 2016, in a separate lawsuit, defendants
    and several others2 sued Pasadena and Pasadena mayor Terry
    Tornek seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. We will refer to
    this as defendants’ action. Defendants’ complaint alleged that
    customers of the marijuana dispensaries had serious medical
    issues and benefited from cannabis products. Defendants alleged
    that Pasadena was improperly enforcing the PMC ban on medical
    marijuana dispensaries. Defendants’ complaint also alleged that
    PMC section 17.80.020M, defining a medical marijuana
    dispensary, was not enacted in compliance with relevant laws,
    and therefore was void. Defendants requested, in part, a
    2The plaintiffs listed in this complaint are Urgent Care
    Medical Services, Inc.; Robert Zohrabyan; Isaac Moreno Alfaro;
    Shaun Szameit; Peter Giron; Golden State Collective; Hallmark
    Research Collective; Urban Farms Delivery; Kevin Huebner;
    Mike Boonthawesuk; Nu Remedy Collective; Lotus
    Entertainment Corp.; and Jesse Boggs.
    5
    declaration stating that the PMC does not ban medical marijuana
    dispensaries. Defendants also filed a notice of related cases for
    Pasadena’s injunction action and two additional cases. The
    superior court deemed the cases related and assigned them to the
    same judge.
    On March 1, 2016, Pasadena filed its reply to defendants’
    opposition in the injunction action. Pasadena noted that
    defendants did not refute that defendants are operating medical
    marijuana dispensaries in the City of Pasadena. Pasadena
    further argued that it employs “permissive zoning,” which means
    that if a land use is not specifically listed in the Zoning Code, it is
    prohibited. Because a medical marijuana dispensary was not
    listed as an allowed use in the Zoning Code, such a use was not
    allowed. In 2005, Pasadena added the definition of a medical
    marijuana dispensary to the PMC by enacting section
    17.80.020M. Pasadena pointed out that because the ordinance
    was adopted in 2005, defendants’ challenge to it was time-barred
    because “facial challenges to zoning provisions are subject to the
    90-day limitation period” under Government Code section 65009,
    subdivision (c)(1)(B). Pasadena also stated that the City Council
    authorized the actions to abate illegal medical marijuana
    dispensaries.
    In the injunction action, Pasadena filed a supplemental
    brief in support of its motion for an injunction on March 14, 2016.
    Pasadena noted that a hearing was held on March 2, and “at that
    time the defendants . . . raised the question whether the City had
    authority to initiate the instant lawsuit.”3 The court asked for
    supplemental briefing. Pasadena stated that according to the
    3The record on appeal does not include a transcript from
    this hearing.
    6
    PMC, “An injunction and an abatement proceeding require
    authorization from the City Council.” It stated that the City
    Council authorized the initiation of two legal actions during its
    closed session meeting on July 21, 2014. Pasadena also
    submitted a declaration attaching a public report of action,
    stating that in 2014 the City Council “authorized and directed
    the City Attorney to initiate civil abatement actions, to include
    injunction, abatement proceeding, and/or nuisance abatement,
    against illegal marijuana dispensaries operating in the City.”
    The court granted Pasadena’s motion for a preliminary
    injunction on April 4, 2016. The injunction prohibited defendants
    from “providing, making available, or distributing medical
    marijuana to a primary caregiver, a qualified patient, or a person
    with an identification card . . . and/or allowing such activity to
    occur on their property.” The order was stayed and vacated for
    reasons not relevant to the issues on appeal. The court signed a
    modified preliminary injunction on September 14, 2016.
    Meanwhile, on April 28, 2016, Pasadena cross-complained
    in defendants’ action, seeking injunctive relief and nuisance
    abatement. On July 15, 2016, Pasadena filed a motion for a
    preliminary injunction in defendants’ action. Defendants noted
    that there already was a preliminary injunction in place affecting
    many of the defendants. However, Pasadena was seeking an
    additional injunction because “medical marijuana dispensaries
    are trying to circumvent the preliminary injunctions already
    issued by either renaming the dispensary or allowing other
    dispensaries to occupy and use their location.”
    Defendants opposed Pasadena’s motion, arguing that
    Pasadena failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the
    merits and failed to present evidence to support a balance-of-the-
    7
    harms analysis. Defendants also argued that the City Council
    did not authorize the filing of a request for an injunction.
    Defendants further contended that Pasadena failed to
    demonstrate that the businesses met the definition of a nuisance.
    On September 14, 2016, the court granted Pasadena’s
    motion for a preliminary injunction in defendants’ action. On
    September 20, 2016, defendants filed a notice of appeal in
    defendants’ action. The following day, defendants filed a notice of
    appeal in the injunction action.
    STANDARD OF REVIEW
    “Pursuant to longstanding Supreme Court case law, ‘trial
    courts should evaluate two interrelated factors when deciding
    whether or not to issue a preliminary injunction. The first is the
    likelihood that the plaintiff will prevail on the merits at trial.
    The second is the interim harm that the plaintiff is likely to
    sustain if the injunction were denied as compared to the harm
    that the defendant is likely to suffer if the preliminary injunction
    were issued.’ [Citation.] We review a trial court’s application of
    these factors for abuse of discretion. [Citation.].” (ITV Gurney
    Holding Inc. v. Gurney (2017) 18 Cal.App.5th 22, 28-29.) In
    addition, “questions underlying the preliminary injunction are
    reviewed under the appropriate standard of review. Thus, for
    example, issues of fact are subject to review under the
    substantial evidence standard; issues of pure law are subject to
    independent review.” (People ex rel. Gallo v. Acuna (1997) 
    14 Cal. 4th 1090
    , 1136-1137.)
    “[W]here a legislative body has specifically provided
    injunctive relief for a violation of a statute or ordinance, a
    showing by a governmental entity that it is likely to prevail on
    8
    the merits should give rise to a presumption of public harm.” (IT
    Corp. v. County of Imperial (1983) 
    35 Cal. 3d 63
    , 71.)
    DISCUSSION
    “In 1996, the voters of California adopted an initiative
    measure permitting medicinal use [of marijuana] and, in 2004,
    the Legislature enacted a statute to enhance access to medicinal
    marijuana. [Citation.] In 2016, the voters approved Proposition
    64 legalizing marijuana for recreational use by adults, subject to
    various conditions. (See, e.g., Health & Saf. Code, §§ 11358-
    11359.)” (City of Vallejo v. NCORP4, Inc. (2017) 15 Cal.App.5th
    1078, 1081.) “State law permitting medicinal marijuana use and
    distribution does not preempt ‘the authority of California cities
    and counties, under their traditional land use and police powers,
    to allow, restrict, limit, or entirely exclude facilities that
    distribute medical marijuana, and to enforce such policies by
    nuisance actions.’” (Id., at pp. 1081-1082.) The parties agree
    that in general, a municipality such as Pasadena has the
    authority to prohibit facilities that distribute medical marijuana.4
    Defendants, however, argue that PMC’s efforts to prohibit
    facilities that distribute medical marijuana fail for three reasons.
    4 For the first time at oral argument, counsel for
    defendants asserted that in City of Riverside v. Inland Empire
    Patients Health and Wellness Center, Inc. (2013) 
    56 Cal. 4th 729
    ,
    the Supreme Court held that state marijuana laws did not permit
    a municipality to implement a “total ban” on medical marijuana
    dispensaries. This is incorrect. In City of Riverside, the Court
    stated that state marijuana law “neither . . . expressly or
    impliedly preempts the authority of California cities and
    counties, under their traditional land use and police powers, to
    allow, restrict, limit, or entirely exclude facilities that distribute
    medical marijuana, and to enforce such policies by nuisance
    actions.” (Id. at p. 762 [emphasis added].)
    9
    First, defendants assert that the PMC does not sufficiently state
    that a medical dispensary is a nuisance, thus precluding a
    finding of nuisance per se. Second, defendants contend that PMC
    section 17.80.020M was not adopted pursuant to required
    procedures. Third, defendants claim that the actions against it
    were not properly authorized by the City Council as required by
    the PMC. Defendants argue that due to these deficiencies, the
    trial court erred by finding that Pasadena made a showing that it
    would prevail on the merits at trial. We address each of these
    arguments below.
    A.     The PMC states that medical marijuana dispensaries
    are not permitted, and that non-permitted uses are a
    nuisance.
    Defendants argue that the trial court erred by granting
    Pasadena’s motions and issuing the injunctions because “there is
    no substantial evidence of a city ordinance which explicitly
    declares that a medical marijuana dispensary is a nuisance.”
    Defendants assert that such an explicit declaration is required in
    order to deem any land use a nuisance per se, citing Beck
    Development Co. v. Southern Pacific Transportation Co. (1996) 
    44 Cal. App. 4th 1160
    (Beck). In that case, the court stated, “The
    concept of a nuisance per se arises when a legislative body with
    appropriate jurisdiction, in the exercise of the police power,
    expressly declares a particular object or substance, activity, or
    circumstance, to be a nuisance.” (Id. at p. 1206.)
    Defendants assert that PMC section 17.80.020M sets forth
    only a definition of a medical marijuana dispensary, and does not
    constitute an “express declaration” that such a use is a nuisance.
    They also contend that other PMC sections “that in general state
    that any violation of any provision of the PMC is a nuisance is
    10
    not an express declaration” that a medical marijuana dispensary
    is a nuisance.
    We disagree. Defendants cite no authority for their
    contention that a finding of nuisance per se must be based on a
    single statute as opposed to a statutory scheme. Here, the PMC
    states that medical marijuana dispensaries are a nuisance, albeit
    though multiple ordinance sections.
    PMC section 17.80.020M states in part, “Medical
    Marijuana Dispensary (land use). A facility or location which
    provides, makes available or distributes medical marijuana to a
    primary caregiver, a qualified patient, or a person with an
    identification card issued in accordance with California Health
    and Safety Code Section 11362.5, et seq. This use is prohibited in
    the City of Pasadena.”5
    Pasadena asserts that it employs a permissive zoning
    system, in that the “zoning regime prohibits any land use that is
    not specifically enumerated in the Zoning Code.” PMC section
    17.21.030(A) states that “uses of land allowed by this Zoning
    Code in each zoning district are listed” in tables included in the
    PMC Zoning Code. That section continues, “Land uses that are
    not listed in tables or are not shown in a particular zoning
    district are not allowed . . . .” (PMC 17.21.030(A)(1).) Medical
    marijuana dispensaries are not listed in tables or otherwise
    allowed in the PMC.
    PMC section 17.78.060(A)(3) states that “[a]ny use or
    structure which is altered, constructed, converted, enlarged,
    5 Pasadena submitted a request for judicial notice attaching
    relevant parts of the PMC. Defendants did not oppose the
    motion. Pasadena’s request to judicially notice relevant portions
    of the PMC is granted.
    11
    erected, established, installed, maintained, moved, operated, set
    up, or used contrary to the provisions of this Zoning Code . . . is
    hereby declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance . . . and
    shall be . . . [s]ummarily abated by this City.”
    The PMC therefore states that medical marijuana
    dispensaries are not permitted, and non-permitted uses are
    nuisances. This was sufficient to support the trial court’s finding
    that the dispensaries constituted nuisances per se. “[W]here the
    law expressly declares something to be a nuisance, then no
    inquiry beyond its existence need be made and in this sense its
    mere existence is said to be a nuisance per se.” 
    (Beck, supra
    , 44
    Cal.App.4th at p. 1207; see also City of Monterey v. Carrnshimba
    (2013) 
    215 Cal. App. 4th 1068
    , 1086 [“An act or condition
    legislatively declared to be a public nuisance is ‘“a nuisance per
    se against which an injunction may issue without allegation or
    proof of irreparable injury.’’”].) Defendants have cited no
    authority in support of their position that a nuisance must be
    enumerated in a single ordinance section in order to be deemed a
    nuisance per se, and we have found none.
    Defendants argue that Pasadena’s permissive zoning
    structure is insufficient to establish a nuisance per se, because
    “[p]ermissive zoning by definition creates only a presumed
    prohibition, but not an explicit legislative determination that the
    use in question, medical marijuana dispensary, is a nuisance.”
    Pasadena asserts that courts have recognized permissive zoning
    as a valid method of prohibiting dispensaries. Pasadena is
    correct. For example, in City of Monterey v. 
    Carrnshimba, supra
    ,
    215 Cal.App.4th at p. 1095, the Court of Appeal held that the
    municipality’s permissive zoning code, combined with a code
    section stating that all unauthorized uses were nuisances,
    12
    established that the dispensary at issue was a nuisance per se.
    (Ibid.) Other cases also have found that permissive zoning
    sufficiently bars the establishment of medical marijuana
    dispensaries. (See, e.g., The Kind and Compassionate v. City of
    Long Beach (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 116, 128 [a permissive zoning
    scheme meant that the dispensaries “never had a vested property
    right to operate a medical marijuana dispensary in the city”];
    City of Corona v. Naulls (2008) 
    166 Cal. App. 4th 418
    , 433 [“where
    a particular use of land is not expressly enumerated in a city’s
    municipal code as constituting a permissible use, it follows that
    such use is impermissible”]; City of Claremont v. Kruse (2009) 
    177 Cal. App. 4th 1153
    , 1165 [where the “Claremont Municipal Code
    expressly states that a condition caused or permitted to exist in
    violation of the municipal code provisions may be abated as a
    public nuisance,” the “operation of a nonenumerated and
    therefore expressly prohibited use . . . created a nuisance per
    se.”].)
    Defendants also argue that the trial court erred because
    “Pasadena shows neither nuisance conduct nor an explicit
    declaration by the City Council that a medical marijuana
    dispensary is a nuisance.” However, “‘[n]uisances per se are so
    regarded because no proof is required, beyond the actual fact of
    their existence, to establish the nuisance.’” (City of Costa Mesa v.
    Soffer (1992) 
    11 Cal. App. 4th 378
    , 382.) Here, defendants did not
    dispute that they operate medical marijuana dispensaries, and
    the PMC stated that medical marijuana dispensaries are not
    allowed and therefore a nuisance. Thus, there was no need for
    additional evidence or any determination of facts regarding
    whether the dispensaries created a nuisance.
    13
    Because defendants operated medical marijuana
    dispensaries, which was prohibited, and the PMC states that the
    operation of a prohibited use is a nuisance, the trial court did not
    abuse its discretion by finding that the dispensaries were
    nuisances per se under the PMC.
    B.     Adoption of Ordinance 7018
    Defendants argue that ordinance 7018 was adopted “in
    conflict with general laws” because the PMC and the Government
    Code require notice and a hearing. They argue that the
    insufficiency in public notice also violated PMC section
    17.76.040.6 They assert, without citation to any evidence, that
    “no Public Notice of the 9/12/2005 City Council hearing was
    given, and no Public Hearing was held.”
    Pasadena asserts that defendants’ challenge to the
    procedural enactment of section is time barred: “Legislative
    decisions, such as zoning ordinances like Ordinance 7018, are
    subject to the 90-day limitations period that run from the date
    the ordinance was adopted.” Defendants do not address this
    argument; they did not file a reply brief, and although Pasadena
    6 Neither a 2005 version or a current version of PMC
    section 17.76.040 appears in the record. However, the current
    version of PMC section 17.76.040(C) states, “If a hearing cannot
    be completed on the scheduled date, the presiding review
    authority, before the adjournment or recess of the hearing, may
    continue the hearing by publicly announcing the date, time, and
    place to which the hearing will be continued. A hearing may be
    continued two times in a 90-day period. After two continuances
    or a 90-day period, the hearing shall be renoticed in accordance
    with Chapter 17.76 (Public Notice).”
    (https://library.municode.com/ca/pasadena/codes/code_of_ordinan
    ces?nodeId=TIT17_ZONING_CODE_ART7ZOCOAD_CH17.76PU
    HE_17.76.020NOHE)
    14
    made this argument in the trial court, defendants did not address
    it in their opening brief.
    Government Code section 65009, subdivision (c)(1)(B)
    states, “[N]o action or proceeding shall be maintained in any of
    the following cases by any person unless the action or proceeding
    is commenced and service is made on the legislative body within
    90 days after the legislative body’s decision: . . . . To attack,
    review, set aside, void, or annul the decision of a legislative body
    to adopt or amend a zoning ordinance.”
    The parties agree that ordinance 7018 was adopted in 2005,
    and that it amended the PMC zoning ordinance. Because
    defendants did not challenge ordinance 7018 within the 90-day
    period allowed by Government Code section 65009, subdivision
    (c)(1)(B), their procedural challenge is time-barred.
    C.     Authorization by the City Council
    Defendants assert that Pasadena’s initiation of legal action
    against defendants was not authorized by the City Council, as
    required by the PMC. They argue that “absent an order of the
    Council, an application for injunctive relief is not permitted.”
    PMC section 17.78.110(a)(1) states, “The City Attorney, upon
    order of the Council, may apply to the Superior Court for
    injunctive relief to terminate a violation of this Zoning Code.”
    Defendants acknowledge that the City Council has
    approved the actions against them, citing documents submitted
    with Pasadena’s supplemental briefing. City Council meeting
    minutes from July 21, 2014, states that the City Council had a
    conference with legal counsel, and authorized the initiation of
    two legal actions. A “Council Meeting Recap” of the February 29,
    2016 meeting notes several pending cases, and states, “City
    Council reiterated the direction given on July 21, 2014 to initiate
    15
    civil abatement actions against illegal marijuana dispensaries,
    and gave direction to initiate additional civil abatement actions.”
    (Capitalization removed.) A document dated March 9, 2016,
    titled “Public Report of Action Taken by the City Council of the
    City of Pasadena,” states that on July 21, 2014, the City Council
    “authorized and directed the City Attorney to initiate civil
    abatement actions, to include injunction, abatement proceeding,
    and/or nuisance abatement, against illegal marijuana
    dispensaries operating in the City.” The Public Report continues,
    “In accordance with said authority and direction, the City
    Attorney has initiated actions for injunctive relief and nuisance
    abatement,” and lists several superior court case numbers,
    including the case number for the injunction action. The Public
    Report also states, “On February 29, 2016, the City Council, in
    closed session, by a vote of 8-0, reiterated the authority and
    direction given on July 21, 2014.” Two days later, An “[A]mended
    Public Report of Action Taken by the City Council of the City of
    Pasadena,” dated March 11, 2016, included one additional case
    number. Both the Public Report and the amended Public Report
    were signed by assistant city attorney Frank Rhemrev.
    Defendants argue that the documents showing City Council
    authorization are “a self-serving fiction created by a city attorney
    who was not present at either meeting.” Other than criticizing
    the evidence, however, defendants give no indication that the
    City Council did not approve the initiation of the legal actions at
    issue here. Defendants’ arguments are unpersuasive.
    Defendants contend that according to the roll call at the
    City Council meeting on July 21, 2014, Rhemrev was not present
    at that meeting. Defendants do not contend that the City Council
    minutes of July 21, 2014 are incorrect regarding the initiation of
    16
    the legal actions. The minutes state that the injunction action
    was authorized, and defendants have provided no evidence to the
    contrary. The February 29, 2016 meeting recap reiterates that
    such actions were authorized, and defendants also do not contend
    that this document is incorrect. Rhemrev’s presence at the City
    Council meeting in 2014 is not relevant to whether the injunction
    action was authorized by City Council.
    Defendants also argue that the March 2016 Public Reports
    are unreliable because the case numbers were not assigned at the
    time of the 2014 authorization, and “[t]he City Council could not
    have referenced actions by case numbers not yet assigned.”
    However, those documents are dated and signed in March 2016,
    and merely state the actions that were taken in 2014 and
    afterward. The documents do not purport to be written before
    case numbers were assigned. Thus we find no fault with the fact
    that the documents written in 2016 include case numbers that
    were assigned after the July 21, 2014 authorization.
    In short, defendants have not set forth any persuasive
    arguments that the legal actions here were not authorized by the
    City Council. To the contrary, the evidence shows that City
    Council did authorize the actions. Defendants have therefore
    failed to demonstrate that the trial court abused its discretion by
    finding that the actions here were authorized by the City Council.
    17
    DISPOSITION
    The order issuing the injunction is affirmed. The City of
    Pasadena is entitled to its costs on appeal.
    COLLINS, J.
    We concur:
    EPSTEIN, P. J.
    WILLHITE, J.
    18
    Filed 3/28/18
    IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
    SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
    DIVISION FOUR
    URGENT CARE MEDICAL                        B277827
    SERVICES, et al.,
    (Los Angeles County
    Plaintiffs and Appellants,         Super. Ct. No. BC610250)
    v.                                 ORDER CERTIFYING OPINION
    FOR PUBLICATION
    CITY OF PASADENA,
    Defendant and Respondent.
    THE CITY OF PASADENA et al.,                 B277868
    Plaintiffs and Respondents,        (Los Angeles County
    Super. Ct. No. BC552019)
    v.
    ORDER CERTIFYING OPINION
    MEDICAL CANNABIS                           FOR PUBLICATION
    CAREGIVERS INSTITUTE et al.,
    Defendants and Appellants.
    THE COURT
    The opinion in the above-entitled matter filed on March 5, 2018, was
    not certified for publication in the Official Reports. Good cause appearing,
    it is ordered that the opinion in the above-entitled matter be published in the
    official reports.
    ____________________________________________________________
    EPSTEIN, P.J.              WILLHITE, J           COLLINS, J.
    2
    

Document Info

Docket Number: B277827

Filed Date: 3/28/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 3/28/2018