In Brown v. City of Inglewood, published July 7, 2025, the California Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the lower court of appeal, which reversed the denial of an anti-SLAPP special motion to strike. The plaintiff, the elected treasurer of the defendant city, wrote to the city and several of its officials, including the mayor and…
In Julian Volunteer Fire Company Association v. Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (County of San Diego), published March 30, 2021, the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division 1 affirmed a judgment against the petitioner association in a Brown Act lawsuit. The association provided fire prevention and emergency services through a local fire district. The district voted to…
In Denny v. Arntz, published October 14, 2020, the First District Court of Appeal, Division 2 affirmed the dismissal based on demurrer of a lawsuit challenging a city proposition. The proposition was summarized in a voter pamphlet. Pre-election, public meetings were held to discuss the digest language on the proposition that would go into the pamphlet. …
In Citizens Oversight v. Vu, published May 21, 2019, the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division 1 affirmed a trial court decision declaring that ballots cast by registered voters during the 2016 California Presidential Primary Election are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act. Government Code section 6254, subdivision (k), exempts from the CPRA…
In Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, published June 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed an Eighth Circuit decision upholding a Minnesota law prohibiting individuals from wearing a political badge, political button, or other political insignia inside a polling place. The Court held that a polling place is a nonpublic forum for First Amendment purposes. Therefore,…