Court Upholds EIR for LAX Master Plan

On April 8, 2016, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Glen Reiser ruled that the City of Los Angeles complied with CEQA when it certified an EIR and approved a plan mapping out a strategy for upgrading the Los Angeles Airport.  Two lawsuits were filed challenging the City’s decision:  one was filed by the “Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion,” and another was filed by the cities of Inglewood and Culver City.  The petitioners sought to blow up the plan in hopes of thwarting upgrades at LAX, and forcing air traffic to other airports in the region.  Following a three-day trial in January 2016, Judge Reiser issued a 118-page ruling rejecting all of the petitioners’ claims.  Whit Manley, together with a team of lawyers led by Margaret Sohagi of the Sohagi Law Group, represent the City of Los Angeles in the litigation.