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A state appeals court has affirmed punishing sanctions in a lawsuit involving local environmental attorney Cory Briggs for failing to obey court orders. The decision ends a lawsuit Briggs filed on behalf of a nonprofit against a Wal-Mart in Riverside County and establishes legal precedent. The admonishment arose after CREED-21, the nonprofit Briggs was representing in court, “willfully failed to obey” two court orders to produce one of its members.

The Otay Water District has reached a resolution with HomeFed Corp. to install water meters at the developer’s 450-acre Escaya master-planned community in Otay Ranch after methane and other volatile chemicals were found in soil samples. “We’re proceeding with all our work in the field,” said Kent Aden, vice president of Carlsbad-based HomeFed. He added that the water district’s agreement to move forward with the meters “was kind of a big milestone.”

In a swift unanimous vote, Encinitas Council member Joe Mosca was appointed to the deputy mayor seat on Dec. 20. Mayor Catherine Blakespear, after thanking outgoing Deputy Mayor Tony Kranz for his past year of service, nominated Mosca without further immediate comment. The other council members quickly agreed. The deputy mayor also traditionally serves as the president of the San Dieguito Water District.

For weather experts, autumn in Southern California is “the great race.” The severity of the fall fire season is often determined by what arrives first — the fierce Santa Ana winds or the rains. This year, however, it’s been no contest. Autumn has seen excruciatingly little rain, intensely low humidity, record heat and powerful winds that sparked what is so far the second largest wildfire in modern California history. “The result are these near-apocalyptic fires that we’re seeing,” climatologist Bill Patzert said.

With considerable discussion about the merits of providing public access to meetings versus cost and time efficiency, Ramona Municipal Water District directors are on course to switch their monthly meetings from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. if the ordinance to amend the legislative code is approved at their Jan. 9 meeting. The meeting will start at 2 p.m. in January. The revised meeting time received preliminary approval on a 3-1 vote on Dec. 12 with board members Jim Hickle, Jeff Lawler and Bryan Wadlington in favor, and board president Thomas Ace dissenting.