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D.C. Office of Open Government Sues to Stop Open Meetings Act Violations

dcogcadmin | October 27, 2016

Flexing its enforcement muscle in court for the first time, the Office of Open Government has filed suit against the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs.  D.C. law gives the independent Office power to go to court to enforce the D.C. Open Meetings Act.

According to the lawsuit filed in D.C. Superior Court, the Commission failed to post agendas or minutes of 11 meetings this year as the law requires. The lawsuit also says the Commission continued to meet without following the legal requirements despite repeated communications and offers of help.

According to the Office, the suit was the “last resort” after “exhausting all reasonable and lawful means” to bring the Commission into compliance.  

The Commission has not responded.

The Office asked the court for urgent action to stop the unlawful meetings, but an October 27 hearing on a temporary restraining order has been canceled. The next court date is January 6, 2017. 

The complaint is is available at the link below.

The case is assigned to Judge John M. Campbell, No. 2016-CA-7337.