by Derek P. Cole on July 27, 2015
posted in Meetings, Recent Court Decisions,
What happens when a meeting agenda refers to the wrong legal authority for a closed-session item an agency considers? If it’s clear to the public what action the agency may take, there is no Brown Act violation. According to a recent court opinion, Continue Reading
by Derek P. Cole on July 13, 2015
posted in Meetings,
Does the Brown Act sometimes get in the way of good government? According to the Little Hoover Commission, a think-tank agency that studies the performance of state government, the answer is yes. After comprehensively studying how the Brown Act regulates Continue Reading
by Derek P. Cole on June 16, 2015
posted in Ethics,
Consultants are fixtures in the world of local government. Engineers, architects, lawyers, and many other professionals routinely contract with local agencies to provide a wide range of services. A recent court opinion, Davis v. Fresno Unified School Continue Reading
by Derek P. Cole on April 27, 2015
posted in Public Records Act,
In a ruling that probably surprised many people, the Los Angeles-based Second District Court of Appeal held this month that attorney billing records need not be produced under the California Public Records Act (“CPRA”). The appellate court overturned Continue Reading
by Derek P. Cole on March 2, 2015
The lawsuit had it all. There were claims of conflicts of interest and a corrupt bargain. Millions of dollars hinged on its outcome. The suit resulted in the recall of elected officials. And while claiming it was aimed toward restoring good government, Continue Reading