In Vargas v. Municipal Court (1978) 22 Cal. 3d 902, 909-910, 587 P.2d 714, 150 Cal. Rptr. 918, an unlawful detainer proceeding was held in municipal court; the tenants unsuccessfully appealed to the appellate division, and the Court of Appeal refused certification. The tenants then petitioned for a writ of mandate to the Supreme Court to review whether the municipal court erred in precluding as a defense to eviction the tenants' claim that the landlord-employer was retaliating against them for their statutorily-protected union activities. The Supreme Court granted writ relief with virtually no discussion, noting only "the novelty and general importance of the issues" and that all parties had conceded the case was properly before the court. ( Vargas, supra, at p. 910.)