FPPC denies motion to vacate default in Damian Morgan enforcement case

The California Fair Political Practices Commission on May 15 denied a motion to vacate a default decision in the enforcement matter involving respondent Damian Morgan, meaning the previously entered default order will stand unless later altered through collections or other enforcement steps.

The commission voted unanimously to deny the motion after hearing from General Counsel David Bainbridge and from Morgan himself. Bainbridge explained the statutory standard: the commission may vacate a default and grant a hearing on a showing of “good cause,” which can include failure to receive notice, mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. He told commissioners the statute focuses on whether there is justification for reopening the administrative process rather than…