News & Events

April 16, 2012

PRESS RELEASE: 

COURT HEARING ON SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTIONS

IN SHARP PARK GOLF CASE SET FOR APRIL 20

          Federal Court Judge Susan Illston will hear oral arguments Friday, April 20 in Federal District Court in San Francisco, on cross-motions for summary judgment brought by the City and County of San Francisco and golf advocates, on one hand, and conservation organizations on the other hand, concerning the future of the 80-year-old Sharp Park municipal golf course.

          Built by the legendary golf architect Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1932, Sharp Park is owned by San Francisco, but located in the San Mateo County beachside suburb of Pacifica. 

          Conservationist groups, led by the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club, are seeking summary judgment that golf and maintenance operations at the historic course, are illegally killing legally-protected frogs.  Lawyers for City and County of San Francisco and for the San Francisco Public Golf Alliance deny the plaintiffs’ claims, and have filed their own cross-motions for summary judgment.  Judge Illston in November, 2011 denied the conservation groups’ motion for a preliminary injunction that would have closed the golf course; among other things, the judge found that the population of California red-legged frogs at the golf course has actually increased over the past 20 years.  In view of that finding, the lawyers for the City and the Public Golf Alliance are now arguing that the plaintiffs lack “standing” to bring suit to close the course. 

          Oral arguments will be conducted in Judge Illston’s courtroom, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Department 10 of the United States District Court, Northern District of California, located at 450 Golden Gate Ave., Floor 19, San Francisco.

CONTACT:  BO LINKS, 415-393-8099, bo@slotelaw.com