The parties in a pending Sacramento Superior Court action, Tos, et. al. v. California High Speed Rail Authority, et al., have submitted supplemental briefing in preparation for a hearing next week.  The supplemental briefing addresses the Court’s uncertainty as to whether the issuance of a writ of mandate invalidating the High Speed Rail Authority’s (“Authority”) funding plan should undermine the Authority’s subsequent approvals for the high-speed rail project (“project”).  The Court will issue a tentative ruling on November 7, and both parties will appear for the hearing on this question on November 8 at 9:00 a.m.

A ruling invalidating the funding plan could effectively invalidate the approvals made under that that plan, which in turn may have adverse consequences for the entire project, including potentially fatal delays.  

Co-authored by Juliet H. Cho and Michael N. Mills.