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The FOI Advocate is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The blog relies on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. We will correct errors and inaccuracies when we become aware of them.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Calif. Senate approves cost-limiting bill

The California Senate unanimously approved a bill to prevent judges from ordering plaintiffs to pay governments' legal costs in open records and meetings lawsuits, the AP reported. Newspaper publishers supported the effort.
The cost of fighting for access to public records and meetings would be limited under a bill approved by the Senate.

Sen. Leland Yee's bill would bar judges from ordering plaintiffs to pay governments' legal costs in open records and meetings lawsuits. Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, says high costs have "a chilling effect" on such public interest lawsuits.

For instance, the nonprofit Center for Public Forum Rights near Sacramento paid $80,000 in government attorneys' costs last year after it sued Orange Unified School District for allegedly altering video of a public meeting.

More here.

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