City Settles CFJ Open Meetings Case

The City of Ridgefield settled with the Center for Justice in an Open Public Meetings Act enforcement case for just over $7,000 in attorneys fees and costs reports The (Vancouver) Columbian. The City will also pay $900 to charity in lieu of OPMA civil penalties.

This is the first settlement in the five Center for Justice cases filed during Sunshine Week. Settlements in most of the other cases are expected soon.

The Center for Justice's goal in filing these cases was to highlight the open meetings problems in the state, enforce the law in specific cases, and deter other violations. Most local governments involved in the first round of suits understand that it is in their (taxpayers') best interest to quickly and efficiently end these cases.

Note: Allied Law Group represents the Center for Justice in these cases.