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Whittier City Council unanimously votes to initiate litigation; defendants to be disclosed later
Summary
At a special Oct. 7 meeting, the Whittier City Council voted unanimously in closed session to initiate litigation under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4). City Attorney Keith F. Collins said the city will disclose defendants when the litigation is formally commenced.
The Whittier City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 7, 2025, to initiate litigation in closed session under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4), City Attorney Keith F. Collins reported. The special meeting was called to order by Mayor Joseph A. Vinatieri at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Whittier City Hall.
City Attorney Keith F. Collins told the council that members voted unanimously to authorize initiation of the lawsuit and said ‘‘defendant(s) would be disclosed when litigation commenced.’’ The transcript and the meeting minutes record no further details about the subject of the potential litigation, the identity of the defendant(s), or the legal claims to be pursued.
The closed-session agenda item was listed as: “Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation, initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4): One Case.” No motions, mover/second text, or additional staff briefing on the substance of the case appear in the public record excerpt provided.
The council’s roll call for the special session listed Mayor Joseph A. Vinatieri; Council Member Fernando Dutra (participating remotely from Hotel Le Plaza in Brussels); Council Member Mary Ann Pacheco; Council Member Cathy Warner; and Mayor Pro Tem Octavio Martinez. The minutes note that there were no public comments during the meeting.
City Clerk Rigoberto Garcia, Jr. adjourned the special meeting at 1:49 p.m. The city attorney’s announcement is the most recent procedural development recorded in the minutes; the council did not disclose the defendant(s) or further details about the planned litigation at the meeting.
