The Los Angeles Times is suing to obtain records of a train crash in Southern California that killed 25 in 2008. The suit includes a request for an injunction against Brown Act violations. (Courthouse News Service, October 28, 2015, by Rebekah Kearn)
An Oakdale citizen is charging that the local water officials negotiated a water sale without public discussion or vote. The officials claimed they were within the law since it allows public agencies to negotiate in private. The citizen, Robert Frobose, said the public should have had a chance to comment on the sale, pointing out that the agenda for a August meeting only mentioned “a fall water release in cooperation with state and federal agencies,” vague wording that did not include any indication of a water sale. (The Modesto Bee, October 26, 2015, by Garth Stapley)
Two former Yermo firefights filed a wrongful termination lawsuit that claimed they were fired for whistleblowing. The lawsuit includes a allegation of Brown Act violations in how the Community Service District handled their firing. (Desert Dispatch, October 15, 2015, by Mike Lamb)
A Lompoc citizen is contending that the city violated the Brown Act in connection with its dealings with the California Space Center that plans to build a $460 million project including a rocket launch viewing pavilion, space museum, education center, convention halls, restaurants and retail space. Jane Behr said that the council should not have met in closed session to prepare a notice of default with a November 2 deadline. Peter Scheer of the First Amendment Coalition said the council improperly applied the real property exception of the Brown Act since the exemption does not cover default. (Lompoc Record, October 14, 2015, by Kenny Lindberg)