Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association v. Deukmejian
Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association v. Deukmejian concerned California Proposition 105 (1988), the "Public's Right to Know Act,"
which was approved by California voters in the November 1988 election. On August 10, 1989, before the Act could take effect, Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association filed the lawsuit seeking to have the results of the initiative declared null on the grounds that the initiative violated the state's single-subject rule.
The Court of Appeal, where the lawsuit was filed, declined to hear it. On appeal by the plaintiff, the California Supreme Court denied review. The plaintiffs then filed a petition for a writ of mandamus with the Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco. That court denied the petition.
The denial was appealed and on appeal, the California Court of Appeals determined that the two major provisions of the initiative could not reasonably
be construed to be about the same subject. On this grounds, they overturned the lower court ruling, thus invalidating the initiative.
