Manatt litigator Ronald B. Turovsky, a partner in the firm's Los Angeles office, secured a complete dismissal of claims that Los Angeles City Attorney-Elect Mike Feuer intentionally delayed paying a campaign consultant in order to qualify for taxpayer-provided matching funds. The suit, filed in the midst of the campaign, received widespread media coverage. The Manatt team included Craig Bloomgarden, Seth Reagan and Maura Kingseed.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Superior Court judge agreed with Turovsky's contention that the suit was more about political gamesmanship than protecting the public interest.
"It is difficult for this court to come to any other conclusion than that proposed by the defendants, this complaint is merely a politically motivated complaint meant to chill the political speech of a rival," the judge wrote in his tentative ruling.
Of the victory, a spokesperson for the City Attorney-elect said, "Today the court affirmed what we have known since the beginning: that this was a baseless and politically-motivated lawsuit. Mike is focused on his transition to the office of City Attorney and looks forward to working with everyone in Los Angeles who wants to build a bright future for our city."
Feuer won the May 11, 2013, city attorney election with 62 percent of the vote.