San Juan Capistrano Intervenes in Lawsuit Over OC Weekly Public Records Request
A battle in San Juan Capistrano over public records is heating up with the city taking the unusual step of intervening in an even more unusual lawsuit filed against councilwoman Pam Patterson by a political ally. Back in April, the Weekly requested two-and-a-half months worth of correspondences from Patterson under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). While this infernal rag waited for complete fulfillment of our request, Clint Worthington, a local gadfly, sued the councilwoman in May seeking a court order to halt her from turning over emails and text message exchanges he sent to her private email account and cell phone.
Citing the possibility that Worthington and Patterson may reach a settlement preventing a release of responsive records, the city asked to join the suit. In court documents, attorneys with Best, Best and Krieger, an Ontario-based firm retained by San Juan Capistrano, argued that the city’s interests are “inadequately represented” and “not fully protected” by either Worthington or Patterson.
What are those interests at stake that motivated San Juan Capistrano to intervene?
“[The] City is a public agency with a fundamental interest in government transparency, providing citizens with access to its public records, and compliance with California law,” court documents read. “It seeks to join this Action in order to assert and protect its ability to comply with the California Public Records Act.”
Read more: https://www.ocweekly.com/san-juan-capistrano-intervenes-in-lawsuit-over-weekly-public-records-request/