The state Supreme Court announced Wednesday it will hear a case brought by developers of The Residences at Sandpiper against the city of Goleta, setting the stage for a Sacramento showdown in the $32 million lawsuit.
The decision to hear the case following an appellate court ruling in Goleta's favor came without explanation. The high court will likely settle the protracted legal battle focused on the meaning of a California statute describing rights and rules for newly incorporated cities. As many as 20 third parties, perhaps more, are said to have filed briefs urging the review.
A trial is expected sometime next year.
Typically, the seven justices entertain fewer than 5 percent of the cases brought to their attention -- meaning that the request for consideration from developer Chuck Lande and the Oly Chadmar Partnership came with no guarantees.
"We are very, very happy," said their attorney, Richard Monk. "We feel very gratified, and we think that, given the fact that the court is very busy, that it would not be granting review in the case unless it saw some problems."
Goleta City Attorney Julie Biggs downplayed that interpretation, noting that the suit deals with legislation not yet addressed in case law.
"The Supreme Court generally, in a case like that, is inclined to put its stamp on it," she said. "It's a very straightforward case and a very straightforward statute."
The builders want the Supreme Court to reverse the unanimous ruling of three justices at the 2nd Appellate District Court in Ventura. The appellate justices decided in early October that Goleta was within its rights to block the project that features 87 market-rate homes and 22 designed to be more affordable.