Legal

The Faith Fellowship lawsuit: it’s time for the city of San Leandro to settle

 The Faith Fellowship lawsuit: it’s time for the city of San Leandro to settle  City Hall, Faith Fellowship v. SL case, Legal  No Responses »
Apr 222011
 
The Faith Fellowship lawsuit: it's time for the city of San Leandro to settle

(Note, to understand the particulars of this case please read A primer on the Faith Fellowship v. San Leandro lawsuit first). The 9th circuit court of appeals has just denied the City of San Leandro’s petition for an en banc hearing of the apellate decision against the City on the Faith Fellowship case.  None of the 29 9th circuit judges requested to hear the case.  That is of little surprise, the petition not only had no merit but was terribly and insultingly written.  It was so bad that I’ve argued that it should be grounds to fire Meyers Nave, the law [Continue Reading]

San Leandro sues to keep redevelopment money

 San Leandro sues to keep redevelopment money  City Hall, Legal  No Responses »
Apr 162011
 
San Leandro sues to keep redevelopment money

The city of San Leandro is joining 5 other cities, all represented by the Meyers Nave lawfirm, in a lawsuit that asks the court to validate their redevelopment activities.   The city has not yet disclosed the particulars of the case, but this article discusses the type of lawsuits cities like San Leandro are filing.  It’s unclear whether this lawsuit has legal merit or is necessary, but it’s sure to generate lots of attorney fees for Meyers Nave.

A look at San Leandro’s City Attorney: Time to fire Jayne Williams and Meyers Nave?

 A look at San Leandro’s City Attorney: Time to fire Jayne Williams and Meyers Nave?  City Hall, Featured, Legal  7 Responses »
Apr 162011
 
A look at San Leandro's City Attorney: Time to fire Jayne Williams and Meyers Nave?

Unlike many cities, San Leandro does not have a full time City Attorney of its own.  Instead, it contracts with Meyers Nave, one of the most important municipal law firms in the state, for legal advice and representation.  Jayne Williams, one of Meyers Nave’s principals, functions as San Leandro’s City attorney – but other members of the firm also do work for the city.  Unfortunately, the quality of the legal advice that San Leandro is getting from Meyers Nave seems to be quite poor. San Leandro is currently facing a multi-million dollar settlement/judgement in the Faith Fellowship case and is [Continue Reading]

City of San Leandro to destroy all e-mails, flaunt CPRA, get sued.

 City of San Leandro to destroy all e-mails, flaunt CPRA, get sued.  City Hall, Legal, Transparency  5 Responses »
Apr 042011
 
City of San Leandro to destroy all e-mails, flaunt CPRA, get sued.

Another day, another opportunity for the San Leandro City Council to show its contempt for good governance, the voters and, well, the law.  This time it comes courtesy of City staff and the City Council’s Rules & Communications Committee, presided by no other than Mayor Stephen Cassidy.  The Rules committee has readied  an amendment to the city’s Administrative Code to provide for the automatic deletion of all e-mails from the Inbox/sent folder and trash folder of all city employees & officials after a mere 120 days (4 months). Of course, the City knows quite well that, under the law what [Continue Reading]

A primer on the Faith Fellowship v. San Leandro lawsuit

 A primer on the Faith Fellowship v. San Leandro lawsuit  City Hall, Faith Fellowship v. SL case, Featured, Legal  7 Responses »
Apr 012011
 

A few weeks ago a federal appeals court ruled that the city of San Leandro might have violated federal law by not allowing the Faith Fellowship Foursquare Church to use a building that it had bought in the industrial zone of San Leandro as a church. Last week, the city asked for a rehearing in the case and the final disposition of the case will probably take at least a few months. If, as I predict, the city ultimately loses, it may have to pay damages and legal bills amounting to several million dollars – which will not be covered [Continue Reading]

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