Neal Schon, Michaele Schon, and N&M Productions Inc. v. City and County of San Francisco, Philip Ginsburg, Dana Ketcham, Diane Rea
Published: Jan. 16, 2016 | Result Date: Dec. 8, 2015 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 3:15-cv-00581-LB Settlement – $290,000
Court
USDC Northern
Attorneys
Plaintiff
James A. Quadra
(Quadra & Coll LLP)
Rebecca M. Coll
(Quadra & Coll LLP)
Defendant
Margaret W. Baumgartner
(Office of the San Francisco City Attorney)
David A. Delbon
(Office of the San Francisco City Attorney)
Cheryl S. Adams
(Office of the San Francisco City Attorney)
Facts
Neal Schon, Michaele Schon, and N&M Productions Inc. sued the City and County of San Francisco, Philip Ginsburg, Dana Ketcham, and Diane Rea.
Contentions
PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff Neal Schon was the lead guitarist and founder of the band Journey. On Sept. 19, 2013, plaintiffs applied for a "Special Event Permit" to use the Rotunda of the Palace of Fine Arts for a Dec. 15 wedding and to use the old Exploratorium building, which was then occupied by the Town School for Boys for the reception. Schon and his wife had deep roots in the city. Defendants indicated they were amenable to the plans. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants knew there would be media coverage of the wedding.
In September, October, and November 2013, city employee Rea, who was acting at the behest of defendants Ginsburg and Ketcham, advised plaintiffs that the total permit fee would be $10,000 per day plus extra costs. Plaintiffs asserted that the fees were exorbitant and, therefore, unconstitutional.
Result
The parties ultimately reached a settlement for $290,000.
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