Well, I'm no lawyer ... but judging by the quotes attributed in this article to Mr. Brady, it's questionable whether he's a lawyer either.

He says the "usable segment" is from Merced to Los Angeles.

Not quite. That's presumed to the be the Initial Operating Segment (a term with no legal definition) on which high speed rail service will first be introduced. There's also the federal requirement for "independent utility" and the Prop 1A requirement of "usability." The Central Valley construction project will have independent utility and will be usable by virtue of use for higher-speed diesel Amtrak service, as a high speed rail testbed, and as a component of the Initial Operating Segment.

He says the Authority plans to build a diesel rail system in the Central Valley.

Not really. Rather, the Authority is planning to connect its new tracks into the existing north/south freight tracks that Amtrak uses, thereby providing the opportunity for Amtrak to use the new tracks and provide higher-speed service. The Authority won't be spending any money on diesel equipment or operations; that's Amtrak.

He says that the Supreme Court has required the provisions of Proposition 1A to be strictly enforced.

Again, not really. Or rather, not at all. The California Supreme Court hasn't even looked at Proposition 1A.

If it were my $10,000, I'd want a better, and better informed, lawyer. Oh well.