Judge Awards Attorney’s Fees to Anti-Barrier Group

Judge Thomas Anderle issued a tentative ruling this week that, if upheld, would force Caltrans to pay almost $125,000 in legal fees to attorneys working for on behalf of Friends of the Bridge, an advocacy group that has fought tooth and nail against the proposed suicide barrier on the Cold Spring Canyon Bridge. Anderle said in his tentative ruling that the lawyers’ work “served to vindicate an important public right” and “conferred a significant benefit on the general public.” Friends of the Bridge has contended that Caltrans left crucial information out of a final Environmental Impact Report on the project. In July, a superior court judge ordered that Caltrans vacate approval of the controversial project—designed to keep people from jumping from the popular suicide spot—decertify the final EIR, and recirculate a revised draft EIR for public comment.