UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 29, 2007
AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 001-14431 95-4676679
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
630 East Foothill Blvd.
San Dimas, California 91773
(Address of principal executive (Zip Code)
offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (909) 394-3600
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GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 001-12008 95-1243678
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
630 East Foothill Blvd.
San Dimas, California 91773
(Address of principal executive (Zip Code)
offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (909) 394-3600
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing requirement of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):
|_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
|_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the exchange Act
(17 CFR 14a-12)
|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 8-Other Events
Item 8.01. Other Events
On August 29, 2007 American States Water Company issued a press release
which announced that the First Appellate District of the California Court of
Appeal affirmed the trial court's dismissal of cases involving approximately
2,000 plaintiffs in Los Angeles. A copy of the Company's press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
This Form 8-K and the attached exhibit are filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY
Date: August 29, 2007 /s/ Robert J. Sprowls
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Robert J. Sprowls
Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Corporate Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press Release dated August 29, 2007
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Exhibit 99.1
American States Water Company
Announces Court of Appeal Order in Affirming Dismissal of Court Cases
SAN DIMAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2007--American States
Water Company (NYSE:AWR) is pleased to announce that on August 24,
2007, the First Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal
affirmed the trial court's dismissal of cases involving approximately
2,000 plaintiffs in Los Angeles. The Court held that the trial court
properly applied the California Supreme Court's holding in the
landmark case of Hartwell v. Superior Court, in dismissing water
quality related lawsuits against water utilities regulated by the
California Public Utilities Commission ("CPUC"), including Golden
State Water Company ("GSWC") a wholly-owned subsidiary of AWR.
In 1997, GSWC was named as a defendant in nineteen lawsuits
alleging that GSWC and other water utilities delivered unsafe water to
their customers in the San Gabriel Valley and Pomona Valley areas of
Los Angeles County. Plaintiffs in these actions sought damages,
including general, special, and punitive damages, as well as
attorney's fees on certain causes of action, costs of suit, and other
unspecified relief.
On August 4, 2004, the trial court dismissed GSWC from all
nineteen cases. The trial court found GSWC did not violate established
water quality standards and dismissed the cases after allowing
reasonable time and opportunity for the plaintiffs to prove otherwise.
GSWC has long asserted that it provides water within the standards
established by the CPUC in cooperation with the health authorities. In
September 2004, the plaintiffs filed an appeal to the trial court's
dismissal of GSWC. The Court of Appeal was to determine whether the
trial court properly applied the Supreme Court's holding in the case.
Argument in the Court of Appeal was held before the First Appellate
District on June 20, 2007. On August 24, 2007, the Court of Appeal, in
an opinion certified for publication, unanimously upheld the trial
court's dismissal of the lawsuits against regulated water utilities,
including GSWC.
American States Water Company is the parent of Golden State Water
Company, American States Utility Services, Inc. and Chaparral City
Water Company. Through its subsidiaries, AWR provides water service to
1 out of 30 Californians located within 75 communities throughout 10
counties in Northern, Coastal and Southern California (approximately
255,000 customers) and to over 13,000 customers in the city of
Fountain Hills, Arizona, and portions of Scottsdale, Arizona. The
Company also distributes electricity to over 23,000 customers in the
Big Bear recreational area of California. Through its non-regulated
subsidiary, American States Utility Services, Inc., the Company
contracts with the U.S. Government and private entities to provide
various services, including water marketing and operation and
maintenance of water and wastewater systems.
CONTACT: American States Water Company
Robert J. Sprowls
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (909) 394-3600, ext. 647