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While there may not be any private beach under CA law, Kholsa actually tried to use a sneaky legal argument to get around that[1]. Essentially, he argued that federal land patent on the property from the 1800s superseded the California Coastal Act. It didn't work, but had it work it would have set a dangerous precedent for any properties that could make a similar claim.

[1] http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_2614203...

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> It didn't work, but had it work it would have set a dangerous precedent for any properties that could make a similar claim.

Why do you say it didn't work? From what I've read, the court has ruled in his favor so far.

> Why do you say it didn't work? From what I've read, the court has ruled in his favor so far.

One court ruled in his favor on that issue in the Friends of Martins Beach v. Martins Beach LLC, the court in the later Surfrider Foundation v. Martins Beach LLC case did not find in his favor, and has ordered him to provide access. The former case is on appeal, and Khosla has petitioned for a new trial after losing the latter case.

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