Interesting and compelling news from Cappello & Noël.
Leila Noël was recently honored as the Editor’s Choice in Professional Services by the Pacific Coast Business Times in its “Top 50 Women in Business” edition. [ More… ]
A lawsuit was filed by four separate apartment property owners as well as the Santa Barbara Rental Property Association (SBRPA) on April 3 in federal district court in Los Angeles seeking an injunction to stop the enforcement of the rent freeze and eviction restriction ordinances imposed by the City of Santa Barbara. (SBRPA v. City of Santa Barbara, City Council [ More... ]
The Second Appellate District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower court’s decision that property owners adjacent to Montecito Country Club must remove hardscaping and landscaping they installed without permission on an easement owned by the Country Club and restore the property to its previous condition. (Montecito Country Club, LLC vs. Kevin C. Root, et. al., 2nd Civ. No B341762, March [ More... ]
Calling the City of Santa Barbara’s temporary rent freeze ordinance illegal, the Santa Barbara Rental Property Association (SBRPA) is taking legal action against the city to invalidate the freeze, according to Cappello & Noël LLP, the law firm representing the association. The Santa Barbara City Council voted at its January 13, 2026 meeting to enact a Temporary Rent Increase Moratorium [ More... ]
G. Michael Brelje, an experienced civil litigation trial attorney who specializes in complex business, real estate and construction-related litigation, has been named a partner at Cappello & Noël LLP. The firm is recognized as one of the top complex business litigation law firms in the United States. Brelje joined the Santa Barbara firm in 2022. During his career, he has [ More... ]
Brian Metcalf, a complex litigation and restructuring attorney, has joined the Santa Barbara law firm Cappello & Noël LLP. Metcalf’s practice includes representing corporate and individual clients in complex financial litigation, civil and business disputes, bankruptcy and restructuring matters, and litigation involving fraud, fiduciary duty, contractual, corporate governance, real estate, and other civil and business matters. Before joining Cappello & [ More... ]
After a nine-month review, a United States District Judge has denied Santa Barbara County's motion to dismiss a breach of contract lawsuit over a $140 million waste conversion and management facility, allowing the case against the County to proceed. U.S. District Judge Monica Almadani ruled on June 13 that MSB Investors LLC (MSB) can pursue all claims against the County, [ More... ]
In December 2024, a judge agreed that a one-story restriction contained in an 85-year-old deed on a single-family home in Hope Ranch was not enforceable. (Max Liskin, et. al. vs. Hope Ranch Park Homes Association, Marc A. Lowe, Pauline Lowe, et. al., December 15, 2024, Case No.: 22CV02239). The restriction was clearly unfair to the firm’s clients (the Lowe family) [ More... ]
A $70 million settlement for private property owners with easements for the oil pipeline formerly owned by Plains All American is now final. The appeal period for the class action settlement expired on October 17, 2024, and settlement payments will be made in the first half of November. The settlement resolves all class claims brought by the property owners. (Grey [ More... ]
A TV news segment discusses a lawsuit filed against the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Santa Barbara Charter School, and County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido with attorney Barry Cappello. The lawsuit, filed September 20, 2024, alleges negligence in protecting minor students from sexual predators. To view the news report, click here.
