Informing the media of my response to Dan’s lawsuit

Having been challenged by Dan Clawson, I have sent my public response to the Seattle Times, Seattle PI, and Renton Reporter, appended onto Dan’s original public release.  (As an aside, Dan still seems to resent me for making my email public!?)

Dear media organizations,

My thorough response to Dan Clawsons meritless and politically motivated lawsuit
can be found in my most recent blog entries at www.randycorman.com. I have
covered multiple aspects of this issue, including the politics surrounding it,
and the complete lack of basis for his suit.

I have consulted with an attorney for assistance in filing state Bar ethics
complaints against Dan Clawson, whose lawsuit sounds a bit more like an angsty
teenagers journal entry than a serious complaint. He obviously holds a grudge
against me, which has lead to this abuse of the courts and filing of this
frivolous suit. To be very clear, I have not had any communication of any kind
in many, many months with the Master Builders Association, and I never spoke to
my colleagues about this issue as he alleges. I did not even see the post-it
notes he has fixated on. His allegations are complete fabrications, and he will
answer for them both politically and legally.

Again, please go to www.randycorman.com for complete information. You can also call me directly at
425-271-6913.

> Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:58:29 -0700
> To: csolomon@seattletimes.com<mailto:csolomon@seattletimes.com>
> From: Dan Clawson <dclawson@seanet.com<mailto:dclawson@seanet.com>>
> Subject: Renton City Council – OPMA lawsuit
>
> Dear Cara,
>
> We communicated back in January about Renton City Council Member Randy
Corman
> and his plan to put emails received at the City into a notebook for the
public.
> Not one person has asked to see the notebook. And, ironically, I have filed a
> lawsuit against Randy Corman and three other Council Members for failing to
> follow state law.
>
> Attached are the Summons and Amended Complaint in a civil action I filed
this
> afternoon. At the Council meeting last night it was obvious to myself and
> Council Members Terri Briere, and Toni Nelson, that the majority of the
Council,
> consisting of Marci Palmer, Don Persson, and Denis Law, in collusion with
> Garrett Huffman, a lobbyist from the Master Builders Association, had decided
> prior to the meeting that they would vote against an ordinance amending Title
IV
> to require builders to add certain architectural enhancements to single-family
> houses. The facts are stated in the Amended Complaint. The facts, if proved
> in court, will establish a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act.
>
> The relief I am requesting is the $100 fine provided by OPMA, and an
> injunction prohibiting the defendants from conducting further acts in
violation
> of OPMA. It has been clear to me for a long time that the “Council Majority”
> has been making decisions outside of the public process, but last night they
> failed to conceal their conduct and provided sufficient proof that I can in
good
> faith proceed with the legal process of establishing the violations.
>
> While I appreciate all of the good works and service provided by each of the
> defendant Council Members, election to public office is not a license to
> disregard the law, especially when doing so harms the public interest and
erodes
> the public’s confidence in their government. I can not in good conscience
stand
> by and do nothing when the Legislature has provided a tool for exactly the
> situation that Renton is facing today. It is my intent that this action will
> impress on them the seriousness of their duty to conduct the City’s business
in
> an open way as required by our oath of office and by state law and that they
> will from this point on do so.
>
> The defendant Council Members have not been served at this time, and I have
> not notified them of this action. The documents will be delivered to them by
a
> professional process server. The civil action is a matter of public record,
and
> you are welcome to distribute the attached documents as you determine is best.
>
> You can reach me at the number below or on my cell, 206-595-1795 if you
would
> like to speak with me.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Dan Clawson
>
>
> Clawson Law Office, P.S.
> 108A Logan Ave. S.
> Renton, WA 98057-2019
> (425) 277-1299 / Fax (425) 793-7373
>
>
>
>
>