Meister v. Regents of University of California

In Meister v. Regents of University of California (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 437, the plaintiff, coordinator of a university legal studies program, brought an action against the Dean of Humanities and the Board of Regents for a violation of the Information Practices Act of 1977 (IPA) (Civ. Code, 1798 et seq.). Plaintiff recovered $ 25,000 in non-economic damages, $ 2,500 in punitive damages, and obtained an injunction. He was also awarded his "reasonable attorneys' fees" pursuant to a statutory mandate for fees/costs for successful litigation under the IPA. (Civ. Code, 1798.45, subd. (b).) (Meister, supra, 67 Cal.App.4th at p. 445.) On appeal, the plaintiff challenged the methodology for the determination of the award, including the trial court's finding that a settlement offer should have been accepted and denial of all fees/costs incurred after rejection of that offer. The judgment was affirmed.