A selected summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week.

Developer Sues Morro Bay Over New Zoning: Williams Bros. Markets Inc. in Santa Maria filed suit against the city of Morro Bay, maintaining that it allowed an unlawful zoning measure to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. The company said the measure prevents it from going forward with plans to construct an oceanfront shopping mall. The measure was passed into law by 74 votes. The federal suit contends that the new law prevents construction of the mall by changing the zoning on 30 acres of land owned by the plaintiff near Pacific Coast Highway. The company, which owns an additional 540 acres in the area, said it received a green light for construction from the City Council and the California Coastal Commission in 1986. The suit seeks to have the new law voided on grounds that it violates the plaintiff’s “equal-protection rights” and “arbitrarily and capriciously rezones the property.” (Case No. 91- 0496. Filed Jan. 29)