What is the test for a successful party to claim attorney fees?

Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5, which is a codification of the "private attorney general doctrine," authorizes a court to award attorney fees to a "successful party" when: " '(1) the action has resulted in the enforcement of an important right affecting the public interest, (2) a significant benefit, whether pecuniary or nonpecuniary, has been conferred on the general public or a large class of persons, and (3) the necessity and financial burden of private enforcement make the award appropriate.' " (Family Planning Specialists Medical Group, Inc. v. Powers (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 1561, 1567, 46 Cal.Rptr.2d 667, quoting Planned Parenthood v. Aakhus (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 162, 169-170,

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