SC Court Ordered Milpitas To Pay $100,000 In Attorneys Fees

MILPITAS, CA -- First Amendment Coalition attorneys were awarded $100,000 for a fight with the city of Milpitas over a public records request citing a matter that held "significant public interest" in understanding whether "high-ranking city officials were acting improperly," the complaint indicates.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni sided with the plaintiff this month over an accusation of misconduct by City Manager Tom Williams, who was at the center of the lawsuit. FAC prevailed in the lawsuit on May 25, and the judge ordered the city to release documents relating to Williams.

"Judge Kulkarni's order awarding FAC's attorneys fees is further confirmation that the city should never have withheld these important records -- and that Mr. Williams' effort to prevent their release was misguided," FAC Executive Director David Snyder said. "We are grateful the court got it right here."

The journalism advocacy organization originally sued on June 2, 2017.

The city pledged to respect the transparency of open government at all levels to establish and maintain trust under the leadership of current City Manager Julie Edmonds-Mares.

"We take our responsibility under the California Public Records Act very seriously," Edmonds-Mares said, adding the city will not challenge the ruling.

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