Update on my Public Disclosure Act lawsuit vs. King County

Tuesday morning, August 2, 2005

Subject: Latest update on my long running Public Disclosure, or Open Records, Act lawsuit against Rons Sims and King County over sports stadium documents first sought in 1997.

Update: Legal Briefs now available "on-line" on issue of penalties to be assessed against King County - the subject of the upcoming (August 19, 10 AM) court hearing under order of remand from the Washington State Supreme Court.

Many of you have been following the schedule for, and some of you are planning to attend, the upcoming, August 19, court hearing - the next, and possibly final, legal phase of the over 8 year long legal battle I've waged against King County over sports stadium related documents.

The hearing will be in the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle, 3rd and James, in the courtroom of King County Superior Court Michael Hayden, Room East #863. (NOTE: If you plan to attend the August 19 hearing, please be sure to periodically check this blog for any unanticipated schedule updates. As many readers know, the original date of July 28 was changed on less than 24 hours notice when the judge threw his back out and we had to reschedule! I recommend one last check at your last opportunity before you come to the hearing.)

Meanwhile, you might find it of interest to read the three, easily read, "more or less in plain english", sets of legal briefs that have been filed with the court for this next - and possibly last - legal round of this long running case.

As of last night, these three sets of briefs have been posted at my website: www.ArmenYousoufian.com . Scroll down to the bottom of the home page and you'll find them there as downloadable pdf files.

The three sets of briefs are:

#1. My July 15, 2005 brief on how much we think King County should be made to pay in penalties, and why;

#2. King County's July 22, 2005 reply and their reasoning for what they should be made to pay; and,

#3. My July 26, 2005 response to King County's reply.

I think you'll find it an interesting read to go through all three - and it won't take all that long. Consider it an "anatomy of a public disclosure act lawsuit" - which, as best as we can tell, is the biggest PDA lawsuit ever in any state in the United States. You might want to start with the last brief, to see how we rebut King County's reasoning for why the fines should be less than we think they should be, than work your way back to the beginning. But that's obviously up to you.

Especially if you plan to attend the hearing, I strongly recommend you at least skim the briefs - you'll have a much better understanding of what will go on at the hearing and be better able to follow what the lawyers say and whatever questions the judge may have.

Enjoy.

Armen Yousoufian