Liberty Utilities decision (Carloni) (May 10, 2021)
Mr. Mayor and Counsel …
Now that the initial decision in Town of Apple Valley v. Apple Valley Ranchos Water Corp. (Case no. CIVDS1600180) is in, and yes, your legal team has a chance to object, I ask that each of you read all 84 pages of the decision to understand truly what was stated and not rely on the filtered view of a legal team that has now lost TWICE … Claremont and here.
The decision is well-grounded in substantive law, not emotional arguments. It states that the lofty goals of the Town for local control are not legal grounds to invoke eminent domain and the town’s experts were all discredited right down to the bone. The decision renders incredulous the comments of the mayor in yesterday’s press release.
The financial analysis of the town was very weak and the court was not persuaded because it was based upon faulty documentation. The rate analysis demonstrated that the residents are better served in the long run by the investor utility. The precarious financial condition of the Town and inability to properly follow Prop 218 was also a strongly discussed factor. The rate analysis showed that the Town took more money from the actual rate and thus harmed the ratepayer more than the utility.
In the long run, this dream of another enterprise fund to raid and backfill the general fund is not supported … vision 2020 looking for new revenue sources is fine but must be grounded in the law. This attempt was not.
We have spent so much money, over $7 million on BB&K … and after the decision becomes final, even if tweaked in content, will not be reversed. Don’t spend any more money on this. If you are determined to do so, get independent appellate counsel to review this, provide a check and balance to the rose-colored glasses of BB&K.
I implore you all to additionally consider the costs and attorney fees that may be awarded to Liberty, let us stop the bleeding now.
IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE …
Please read the decision on your own, question, demand answers, and critically review the information provided to you, especially to see if it is consistent with the decision.
Thank you.
Diana J. Carloni, still an AV business owner and part-time resident.
Files related to CIVDS1600180
- 20160107 TOAV Complaint: CIVDS1600180
- 20160223 LAV Answer: CIVDS1600180
- 20180228 Ruling on motion to compel production of Town’s transition plan: CIVDS1600180
- 20210507 Tentative Decision: CIVDS1600180
- 20210507 Key excerpts from the Tentative Decision: CIVDS1600180
- 20210510 Judge tentatively rules against Town in water trial
- 20210511 Judge makes preliminary ruling against Apple Valley taking over water system
- 20210517 A closer look: Why Liberty Utilities’ arguments were favored in Apple Valley’s eminent domain lawsuit
- 20210601 Town of Apple Valley’s Objections to Tentative Statement of Decision: CIVDS1600180
- 20210618 Liberty Utilities’ Response to Town of Apple Valley’s Objections to Tentative Statement of Decision: CIVDS1600180
- Liberty decision: Thoughts and impressions (Carloni)
- Liberty Utilities decision (Carloni)
- Liberty decision: Update (Carloni)
- Hearing tomorrow on Town/Liberty decision (Carloni)
- Court report: Eminent domain trial hearing update (Carloni)
- 20211007 Ruling on objections to Tentative Statement of Decision: CIVDS1600180
- 20211008 Final Decision: CIVDS1600180
- 20211009 Liberty Utilities’ Statement in response to the Final Decision: CIVDS1600180
- 20211112 Order of Dismissal and Judgment: CIVDS1600180
- 20220802 Ruling on Defendant Liberty Utilities Motion for Award of Litigation Expenses: CIVDS1600180
- 20220802 Ruling on Motion for Litigation Expenses Pursuant to CCP 1268.610: CIVDS1600180
- 20220811 Minute Order: CIVDS1600180