County Loses $5.5 Million Land Use Case To Vegetable Grower

Jurors decide a wetlands designation imposed by Santa Barbara County violated the rights of a vegetable grower.

1 minute read

November 24, 2004, 12:00 PM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


In a civil trial, a jury finds that planners and consultants who created a community plan in 1977 "recklessly violated the rights" of a farmer when that farmer's property was identified as "protected wetlands". The verdict "sets a new precedent in California and the United States by holding Planning and Development Department personnel and their hired consultants personally responsible". The federal EPA filed suit against the farmer for violating federal law; that case is set for trial in January.

Thanks to Sue Lee

Tuesday, November 23, 2004 in The Sacramento Bee

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