Measure ULA Upheld as Panel Dismisses Howard Jarvis Appeal

12.2025

A three-judge panel for the Second District California Court of Appeal upheld a 2023 dismissal of a challenge to Measure ULA made by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Barbara Scheper. This is the third victory in court for Measure ULA. The panel wrote, “We conclude the passage of Measure ULA pursuant to a majority vote of the City’s electorate was a valid exercise of the people’s initiative power.”

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA) brought a lawsuit against Measure ULA in December 2022, claiming it was unconstitutional and violated this City’s charter. Newcastle Courtyards LLC and the Mani Benabou Family Trust combined their state action with the Howard Jarvis and AAGLA lawsuit in January 2023. Both challenges were dismissed by Judge Scheper in October 2023. The federal challenge brought by Newcastle Courtyards LLC and the Mani Benabou Family Trust was dismissed by federal district court Judge John Kronstadt in September 2023 and Newcastle’s appeal was dismissed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in November 2024.

The City of Los Angeles defended Measure ULA alongside community groups including Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing (SCANPH), Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015. Community groups were represented by the law firms Irell & Manella and Public Counsel.

Connor He-Schaefer argued the state court action in both the trial and appellate court hearings.

The Irell team also included Morgan Chu, Michael Ermer, Charlotte Wen, Nick Wagner, Jacob Park and Taylor Hatridge.