Armen Yousoufian's Blog

After 30 years in business/investment real estate, I added "citizen activist" to my resume in 1997 when I requested sports stadium documents of King County Executive Ron Sims. After being "stonewalled", I sued, winning more at every stage, up to the state Supreme Court. Documents disgorged by Sims (after 4 years denying they existed!) revealed rigged studies. Sims misled the public on the stadiums. Other issues found me (e.g. Critical Areas Ordinance). Google “Armen Yousoufian” for more.

About Me

Name:
Location: Vashon, Washington, United States

I was born and raised in New York City. I took classical violin lessons for 10 years and studied astronomy. I built telescopes, grinding the mirrors from scratch. I was a nerd! I considered a career in classical violin but chose astrophysics. I majored in Physics at Rutgers University for 2 years, then switched and graduated in mechanical engineering. I moved to Seattle in 1969 to work on missiles for Boeing, got an MBA from Seattle University, and became a business and real estate entrepreneur for over 30 years. In 1997 I became involved in open government activism when I asked King County Executive Ron Sims for sports stadium documents. I was stonewalled. I sued under the Open Records, or Public Disclosure, Act. I won the case in King County Superior Court, but still didn’t get all the documents, nor recovered my legal fees, which the law said I was entitled to be reimbursed. I appealed and won more in the Court of Appeals and the court of public opinion. But I still didn’t get all the documents! I appealed again and won yet more in the Washington State Supreme Court. But I still don’t have all the documents! While that fight goes on I have become involved in new issues.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Friends of the Law Announce Settlement on Redmond Ridge East/Novelty Hill Road dispute

See the below announcement from "Friends of the Law", regarding settlement of their dispute with Weyerhauser/Quadrant over the developments along Novelty Hill Road in Redmond, aka "Redmond Ridge East".

If you don't know what this is about, including rigged traffic studies involving Ron Sims (yes, once again, as with my PDA lawsuit over stadium documents (see: http://www.armenyousoufian.com ) and so many other projects, there were "rigged" studies), etc., check out my past entries on this subject at this blog, and which I've posted below. Otherwise, it looks like their website (http://www.friendsofthelaw.org ) has been reduced to an announcment of the settlement.

http://yousoufian.blogspot.com/2005/06/traffic-and-development-on-redmond.html

http://yousoufian.blogspot.com/2005/03/this-is-incredible-and-related-to-cao.html

http://yousoufian.blogspot.com/2005/03/and-here-is-more-part-2-fwd-update.html

Armen Yousoufian

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: Joseph Elfelt
To: Joseph Elfelt , Steve Shifton
Subject: FOTL - Settlement with Quadrant
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 13:30:49 +0000

I am unfortunately reporting that Friends of the Law (FOTL) has settled its long-running dispute with Weyerhauser/Quadrant over the developments along Novelty Hill Road. The sole reason FOTL settled was because we had run up an attorney bill of around $50,000. The settlement will pay that bill. In general, the terms of the settlement are:

1. A better buffer along the east side of Redmond Ridge East to better protect the rural area

2. Better access to trails for rural residents to the east

3. FOTL receives 3 cash payments from Weyerhauser/Quadrant totaling $75,000

4. FOTL, Steve Shifton and myself will not take any further action to oppose these projects nor assist others to oppose them

5. FOTL reserved the right to assist the traffic whistleblowers in their dispute with the county. I expect to be subpoenaed to testify whenever this federal civil rights lawsuit goes to trial (no date set).

After our outstanding legal bill is paid, my preference is that all the remaining funds will be used as refunds to folks that donated, particularly over the last year or so.

Obviously I have a lot of feelings regarding this settlement having been so heavily involved for a number of years. Thank you one and all for all of your support.

There will be a joint press release soon from Quadrant and FOTL. Note that FOTL is not endorsing Q's actions along Novelty Hill Road in any respect.

Please feel welcome to forward this message to one and all.

Joseph Elfelt, President (but muzzled)
Friends of the Law

posted by Armen Yousoufian | 10:46 AM

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