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(530) 500-2030
Meghan is Senior Counsel in Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley’s litigation practice group. Meghan has been a litigator since 2001 and has focused on public law since 2013.
Meghan has broad public entity litigation experience. While in-house with the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, Meghan litigated cases involving Proposition 218 and 26, election law, municipal finance, contract disputes, the Brown Act, insurance coverage, conflicts of interest, COVID-19 vaccination disputes, and employment disputes. Meghan was primary counsel to the Public Utilities Department and Mayor’s Office regarding Proposition 218 and Proposition 26 issues.
Meghan has argued before the California Supreme Court, California Court of Appeal, and the 9th Circuit. She is admitted to practice before the 9th Circuit, the District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Central Districts of California and the District of Arizona.
Meghan successfully defended San Diego in the California Supreme Court in San Diegans for Open Gov’t v. Pub. Facilities Financing Auth. of the City of San Diego (2019) 8 Cal.5th 733 (limiting standing to bring a conflict of interest claim under Gov. Code § 1092). Her published California Court of Appeal decisions include Mahon v. City of San Diego (2020) 57 Cal.App.5th 681 (franchise fee not an illegal tax if there is evidence of good faith negotiations resulting in a fee that is reasonably related to the value of the franchise); Sviridov v. City of San Diego (2017) 14 Cal.App.5th 514 (affirming cost award after plaintiff’s failure to do better than § 998 offer); and San Diegans for Open Gov’t v. City of San Diego (2015) 242 Cal.App.4th 416 (upholding revenue financing lease to fund infrastructure). Before the 9th Circuit, Meghan successfully defended the City’s practice of chalking tires to enforce parking limits. Verdun v. City of San Diego, 51 F.4th 1033 (9th Cir. 2022). Meghan also represented the League of California Cities as amicus in Jacks v. Santa Barbara.
Meghan served as the San Diego’s Chief Deputy City Attorney for the Special Litigation Division. Additionally, she co-chaired the office’s writing committee and frequently conducted trainings on legal writing topics.
Meghan previously served on the San Diego County Bar Association’s Legislative Committee (2020-2022). In 2023, Meghan was appointed to the League of California Cities’ City Attorneys Department Municipal Finance Committee.
Meghan was admitted to the Arizona Bar (now inactive) in 2001 and the California Bar in 2007. Meghan graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. Meghan holds a B.A. in History from the University of Texas, Austin.
Meghan and her wife relocated to Nevada City, CA in 2023 and joined our Grass Valley office. In her free time, Meghan enjoys painting and hiking.
Practice Areas:
Public Law
Appellate Representation
Administrative and Traditional Writs
Constitutional Issues
Complex Litigation
Contract Disputes
Public Finance Law
Conflicts of Interest Law
Post-Redevelopment
Election Law