According to The Silicon Valley Voice, the City of Santa Clara is trying to keep from the public the names of outside law firms that received $1.4 million by way of attorney’s fees. The City this year started redacting the names of law firms on the City’s and Stadium Authority’s Bills and Claims reports, with no public discussion, under the guise of attorney-client privilege.
Partner James McManis, who won a precedent-setting Public Records Act case establishing that government business conducted on personal devices is a public record, was asked about Santa Clara’s lack of public transparency. He says, “It’s a matter of public interest what an agency is spending on legal bills. Certain details may be withheld, but dates, amounts, totals, lawyers’ names, and the names of their law firms should be disclosed.”
To read the full article, visit The Silicon Valley Voice.