THE INVESTIGATION:
Since 2015, inewsource has investigated Cory Briggs, a San Diego lawyer known for suing government agencies and developers using the California Environmental Quality Act. Our reporting showed Briggs has collected attorney fees and settlements on behalf of a network of nonprofit organizations he helped form — nonprofits that also repeatedly and persistently violated state and federal laws.
Reporters combed through thousands of pages of land records, environmental impact reports, invoices and contracts, uncovering questionable transactions, potential conflicts of interest, and a persistent disregard for state and federal laws. After publishing 10 stories about Briggs, a nonprofit closely associated with the attorney sued inewsource over our lease with San Diego State University and KPBS (where we’re based). In September 2019, the California Supreme Court dismissed the suit, which two lower courts also had rejected.
Briggs ran for San Diego city attorney in 2020 and lost in the November election.
THE REPORTERS:
BRAD RACINO
Brad Racino is a senior investigative reporter and assistant editor at inewsource. He has produced investigations on topics including political corruption, transportation, health, maritime, education and nonprofits. Contact him at bradracino@inewsource.org. Securely contact Brad on Signal or WhatsApp (845-553-4170)
JENNIFER BOWMAN
Jennifer Bowman is an investigative reporter at inewsource who previously worked at daily newspapers in Michigan and North Carolina covering government and other accountability issues. Contact her at jenniferbowman@inewsource.org.
BROOKE WILLIAMS
Brooke Williams is a former investigative and data reporter at inewsource. For The New York Times, she co-authored and built a database for a story that won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting. She also has done reporting for The Center for Public Integrity, The San Diego Union-Tribune, NPR, VICE and The New Republic.
FEATURED STORY
Briggs-associated nonprofits flout state, federal laws
For years, San Diego’s well-known environmental attorney has collected attorney fees and settlements on behalf of a network of charitable, nonprofit organizations he helped form that, in many cases, repeatedly and persistently violated state and federal laws.
MORE ON THE INVESTIGATION
Cory Briggs’ track record overshadows his San Diego city attorney bid
Cory Briggs brands himself as a taxpayer advocate, a reputation built on years of filing lawsuits against public agencies over taxes and environmental laws.
California courts rule in favor of inewsource and San Diego State in lawsuit that tested free speech laws
The California Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging inewsource’s lease with San Diego State University
Briggs Law Corp. loses Supreme Court appeal over Wal-Mart opinion
The state Supreme Court has denied a request by San Diego attorney Cory Briggs to unpublish a precedent-setting opinion in Riverside County.
Cory Briggs’ law firm asks state Supreme Court to review precedent-setting decision
The Briggs Law Corp. has asked the California Supreme Court to review a ruling that ended a CREED-21 lawsuit and established new legal precedent.
Sanction involving San Diego attorney Cory Briggs creates legal precedent in California
A state appeals court has affirmed punishing sanctions in a case involving San Diego environmental attorney Cory Briggs for failing to obey court orders.
Appellate court rules in inewsource’s favor in First Amendment lawsuit
The appellate court rejected a lawsuit claiming inewsource has conflicts of interest that taint its lease agreement with SDSU and KPBS.
Appeals court weighs free speech in suit against inewsource
Court of appeal in San Diego weighs free speech arguments in a case against inewsource, San Diego State University.
Court tones down language, but won’t give Cory Briggs attorney fees
A state court has modified its opinion concerning San Diego attorney Cory Briggs’ “criminal” behavior, but denied a rehearing on the issue.
Cory Briggs challenges court ruling that slammed his conduct
Cory Briggs’ attorney is confident language in the opinion concerning criminal behavior will be changed after the court recognizes it “made a mistake.”
Cory Briggs challenges court ruling that slammed his conduct
Cory Briggs’ attorney is confident language in the opinion concerning criminal behavior will be changed after the court recognizes it “made a mistake.”
Cory Briggs’ conduct ‘unethical and possibly criminal,’ appellate court says
In a published opinion Thursday, three justices of the 4th District Court of Appeal said Briggs knowingly represented a suspended corporation in a lawsuit challenging a new San Diego tax to finance an expansion of the downtown convention center, but didn’t acknowledge it and then didn’t give a reasons for his actions. Publication of the opinion means it can be cited as legal precedent.
The port, the lawyer and the salesman
How San Diego’s vision for a world-class waterfront vanished.
San Diego hotel fee challenge can continue, judge rules
The city and its Tourism Marketing District failed to persuade a judge to throw out a three-year-old lawsuit challenging a hotel fee used to promote San Diego’s tourism industry. Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil ruled that the nonprofit group San Diegans for Open Government has the right to sue over City Council’s 2012 renewal of […]
Judge dismisses lawsuit against inewsource, San Diego State University
A San Diego judge threw out a lawsuit against inewsource, KPBS and San Diego State University, concluding that it was prompted by the inewsource’s investigative journalism.
Five major questions San Diego attorney Cory Briggs won’t answer
Despite repeated requests for answers, some big questions still stand in inewsource’s investigation into the environmental attorney.
SCORE’s retraction demand and our response
One of the subjects of inewsource’s investigation into San Diego attorney Cory Briggs has requested a retraction of a recent article. Here is our response.
Newsletter: San Diego judge warns Briggs about possible criminal prosecution
Newsletter for May 3, 2015.
San Diego Judge Warns Briggs About Possible Criminal Prosecution
Judge Gregory Pollack said attorney Cory Briggs knew the nonprofit he represented in the litigation had been suspended by the state at the time. “Mr. Briggs may be in a whole heap of trouble,” Pollack said.
San Diego Judge Warns Briggs About Possible Criminal Prosecution — with links
Judge Gregory Pollack said attorney Cory Briggs knew the nonprofit he represented in the litigation had been suspended by the state at the time. “Mr. Briggs may be in a whole heap of trouble,” Pollack said.
Watch KPBS Roundtable discussion about Briggs’ nonprofits with Brad Racino
inewsource reporter Brad Racino on KPBS Roundtable May 28 talks about the newest story in the ongoing investigation into San Diego attorney Cory Briggs.
Newsletter: Briggs-associated nonprofits flout state, federal laws
Newsletter for May 28, 2015.
Briggs-associated nonprofits flout state, federal laws — with links
This is the fully-hyperlinked version of the inewsource story about Cory Briggs’ network of charitable, nonprofit organizations he helped form that, in many cases, repeatedly and persistently violated state and federal laws.
Briggs withdraws subpoena against inewsource
After inewsource’s lawyer challenged the subpoena request in court, Briggs withdrew it, saying he has already received all the information he needs from the City Attorney’s Office.
Latest on the Briggs-Sunroad-San Diego legal case
Sunroad donated $10,000 to the city’s Parks and Recreation account and the appraisal is now underway.
inewsource’s response to Cory Briggs subpoena
inewsource has served Cory Briggs with a response to his subpoena, which you can read here.
Cory Briggs gets paid in Sunroad debacle; no money yet to San Diego for land
The settlement between Sunroad and Briggs called for a $10,000 donation to the city in addition to a second payment based on the value of an appraisal.
Briggs subpoenas inewsource executive director
The subpoena asks for information related to an inewsource interview with San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith.
Briggs-related nonprofit sues inewsource and SDSU
One of Briggs’ frequent clients, environmental nonprofit San Diegans for Open Government, filed a lawsuit Thursday against inewsource and its executive director.
A point-by-point response to the newest Briggs-related retraction demand
For the second time, inewsource has received a retraction demand regarding our Cory Briggs investigation. For the second time, here is a point-by-point response.
Second Lawsuit Involving San Diego Attorney Briggs Raises Conflict Issues
Another lawsuit connecting environmental attorney Cory Briggs and his significant other, Sarichia Cacciatore, involves a cross border development project.