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Spokane Valley council rejects settlement in lawsuit over councilmember's social-media posts, will continue litigation
Summary
The council unanimously declined a settlement offer that would have dismissed the city's lawsuit with prejudice and required the city to pay substantial costs, including an independent review paid for by taxpayers and the councilmember's attorney fees. City attorneys warned the offer would not secure enforceable preservation or compliance orders.
The Spokane Valley City Council voted unanimously to decline a settlement offer from Councilmember Albert (Al) Merkel in a lawsuit the city filed over his social-media posts relating to city business.
City Attorney Kelly Concrete told the council the city sued to obtain a declaratory judgment and an order compelling Merkel to comply with the council’s social-media policy after repeated public-records requests that the city could not satisfy without access to all posts. Concrete described the legal risk to the city from outstanding public-records requests and explained the settlement offer’s main terms: dismissal of the city’s case with prejudice; the city paying for an independent master…
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