Lawyer warns city to prove its criticism of voting-system firm (+post)

[kster]

By John McCormick
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 29, 2006

Chicago election officials were told Tuesday that they can legally withhold payments to Sequoia Voting Systems, but only if they can prove the California company failed to live up to the terms of its contract.

Short of that, members of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners were warned by their lawyer to watch what they say about the equipment manufacturer.

Chicago and Cook County officials have acknowledged a lack of training for election judges who faced the daunting task of using a new and complex system in last week's primary. But they have also previously pointed fingers at Sequoia, saying the firm did not perform adequately.

In a memo obtained by the Tribune, the board's lawyer told members, meeting for the first time since the primary, that they are entitled to "withhold or offset payments to Sequoia if there has been a breach of contract." But James Scanlon also said "serious repercussions" could result from making comments about the company that are not fully supported

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0603290267mar29,1,810491.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorth-hed

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