Attorney tells council appointment of Patrick Grady was unlawful; files notice of claim

Attorney Ryan Heath addressed the council during the Call to the Public on Sept. 23 to notify the city that he had filed a notice of claim on Sept. 17 on behalf of Sherry Hannah and to assert that a recent council appointment was unlawful. Heath said he drove from Phoenix to avoid litigation and said his client “did not expect a fair and honest process” when she applied to fill the council vacancy in April 2025. He alleged the appointment of “Mr. Patrick Grady” was influenced by partisan politics and asserted statutory violations. Heath told the council his notice of claim cites Arizona Revised Statutes section 38-503 and said penalties may include a class 6 felony if intentional. “The appointment of Mr. Grady was not lawful. In fact, it was criminal,” Heath said in public comment. He asked the council to void actions that passed with a one-vote majority while Mr. Grady was seated, to redo the appointment process, and to respond to his notice of claim; he said he will file for a temporary restraining order if he does not hear a response by the following Wednesday. Council did not take action on the public comment during the meeting; the remarks were part of the public-comment record.