The Ark
SUBSCRIBE
The Ark
SUBSCRIBE
SECTIONS
TiburonBelvedereStrawberryElection 2026El NiñoColumnsBusinessSchoolsSportsEntertainmentEventsObituariesPublic NoticesAround TownVisit
SUBMIT
Letter to the editorAnonymous news tipCalendar eventPaid obituarySports scoreMilestone or achievementBiz Buzz announcementChalkboard announcementEngagement or weddingBirth announcementPet remembranceGenerosity blurbCorrection request
ADVERTISE
Advertising guidePublic notices & legal adsClassified adsServices guide
EVENTS
Tiburon Peninsula eventsRegional community calendarSubmit a calendar eventLibrary calendarChamber calendar
AROUND TOWN
Ferries, meetings and eventsVisitor guideEmergency preparednessPublic meetingsTiburon Peninsula eventsGolden Gate Ferry scheduleAngel Island Ferry scheduleRoute 219 scheduleTown of TiburonCity of BelvedereBelvedere’s public lanesReed Union School DistrictBelvedere-Tiburon LibraryThe RanchStrawberry Recreation DistrictTiburon Peninsula Chamber of CommerceBelvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society
ACCOUNT
SubscribeLifetime subscriptionActivate your accessDigital replicaUpdate contact infoSubscriber helpNewsletter signupDonate

Belvedere agrees to pay $50k to settle lawsuit over construction time penalty

The $254,400 penalty remains final while the $50,000 represents new settlement consideration rather than a refund or reimbursement.

Kevin Hessel
By KEVIN HESSEL · 1 min read

Belvedere is paying $50,000 to settle a federal lawsuit challenging a Eucalyptus Road homeowner’s construction time-limit penalty, ending a legal battle that cost the city another $82,500 in attorney fees to litigate.

Laurent and Marguerite Lefouet filed suit in U.S. District Court in April after the City Council upheld a $254,400 penalty for a renovation that ran 257 days past its deadline. The couple paid the fine in February but argued it violated constitutional protections against excessive fines and denial of due process.

They reached a no-fault settlement in November that dismisses the lawsuit with prejudice and includes mutual releases, City Manager Robert Zadnik said. Court records show the case was dismissed Dec. 3, and Zadnik said details were being finalized last week.

Under the agreement, the penalty amount remains final while the $50,000 represents new settlement consideration rather than a refund or reimbursement.

Read the complete story in our e-edition, or SUBSCRIBE NOW for home delivery and access to the digital replica.

Comment on this article on Nextdoor.

A version of this story appeared in the Dec. 24, 2025, print edition of The Ark. See something wrong? Request a correction.
Recent Stories
Tiburon, Belvedere brace for El Niño, king tides Tiburon, Belvedere, Strawberry voters are weighing eight local contests, four local measures Nine-townhome plan for Point Tiburon clears key hurdle after three rejections Tiburon sailor’s America’s Cup campaign reaches the big screen Reed Union schools to develop age-based framework for screens, AI
In print every Wednesday
Front page of The Ark, Wednesday, October 28 Oct. 28, 2026 E-EDITION
The Ark in your inbox

Local news from Tiburon, Belvedere and Strawberry, delivered by email.

Support The Ark’s commitment to high-impact community journalism.

The Ark, named the nation's best small community weekly for 2026, is dedicated to delivering investigative, accountability journalism with a mission to increase civic engagement and participation by providing the knowledge that can help sculpt the community and change lives. Your support makes this possible.

SUBSCRIBE Make a contribution