County officials said the higher taxes are needed to close a projected billion-dollar budget shortfall that is the result of the federal government’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Judge Evette Pennypacker ruled that Calvary Chapel San Jose is liable to pay the fines and interest after the church held indoor services and other gatherings and did not require attendees to wear a face covering.
Before joining the county, Tony LoPresti practiced environmental, labor, and employment law at Altshuler Berzon LLP, a public interest firm based in San Francisco, and served as a law clerk in two U.S. Courts of Appeal.
Superior Court Judge Christopher Rudy is allowing Santa Clara County's lawsuit against Calvary Chapel San Jose to continue. The county wants to collect $2.8 mllion in fines for violating county health orders prohibiting indoor gatherings and requiring people to wear masks.