Ex-Candidate to Get Attorneys’ Fees Paid

The Los Angeles City Council has agreed to pay $24,191 in attorneys’ fees for Bennett Kayser, an Echo Park homeowner who had to go to court last spring to get his name on the April municipal primary ballot.

Kayser, who was soundly defeated in the election by 13th District Councilman Michael Woo, had failed to qualify for the ballot because the city clerk’s office said he did not collect enough valid signatures. Kayser claimed that about 100 signatures had been improperly rejected by the clerk and challenged the disqualification in court.

A Superior Court judge ruled in Kayser’s favor in March, forcing the city to add his name to the ballot. An appeal by the city was rejected by the Court of Appeal. Last month, the Superior Court determined the city should pay the attorneys’ fees, a ruling the city attorney’s office did not challenge.