Syed Ali v. City of Los Angeles
Published: Jun. 21, 1997 | Result Date: May 1, 1997 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC008240 Bench Verdict – $1,766,160
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Facts
On Nov. 17, 1988, the Ferrano Hotel was destroyed by fire. In late 1988, plaintiff Syed Ali, the owner of the property on which the hotel was built, requested a demolition permit from the defendant city of Los Angeles. In January 1989, the defendant city denied the plaintiff's request for a demolition permit, claiming that the hotel was a single room occupancy hotel (SRO) and thus could not be demolished without a guarantee of equal or more deed-restricted replacement controlled units. (If a building is 50 percent or more destroyed, the owner is entiled to demolish it without replacement with low-income housing under the SRO statute.) The plaintiff claimed the hotel was 90 percent destroyed. The defendant city claimed the hotel was 35 percent destroyed. In August 1989, the defendant city removed the plaintiff's security guards from the property, placed its own security guards in the hotel and took over the physical operation of the building. The plaintiff claimed the loss of the use of his property for two years and brought this action against the city based on inverse condemnation and violation of civil rights theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made no settlement demands. The defendant's settlement offers, if any were not disclosed.
Damages
The plaintiff claimed $1,766,157 in damages.
Result
POST TRIAL MOTIONS: The plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees of $250,000 is pending.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately six years and nine months after the case was filed. SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE: A settlement conference was held on Oct. 16, 1996. It did not resolve the matter. POST TRIAL MOTIONS: The plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees of $250,000 is pending.
Length
9 days
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