L.A. County Dealt Another Defeat in Storm Water Cleanup Case

"A federal appeals court dealt Los Angeles County a blow on Thursday in a long-running lawsuit over storm-water pollution when it issued an opinion that the county is liable for excessively high levels," reports Abby Sewell.

"Steve Fleischli, senior attorney and director of plaintiff Natural Resources Defense Council's national water program, called the decision 'a significant milestone.'"

"I think this case demonstrates that there is accountability built into the system, and if the county avoids that, they will be held liable," he said.

"Separately," adds Sewell, "the county's Board of Supervisors had considered putting a measure to voters asking for a new parcel fee that would go toward storm-water cleanup projects, but members decided to shelve the initiative in March after it drew widespread public opposition."