A while back interim commissioner Fred Messerle had a Coos County citizen evicted from a BOC meeting. Recently, the US District Court in Pendleton, Oregon, found two former officials guilty of violating the civil rights of citizen as well as violating Oregon’s open meetings law when they similarly evicted a citizen.
Following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Pendleton, an eight-person jury found Len Vohs and Randy Cook guilty of violating the First Amendment rights of Kyle Osborne, a Harney County resident.
The case stemmed from an incident that occurred at a Burns City Council meeting on Oct. 27, 2010. On that date, Vohs was mayor of Burns and Cook the Burns Chief of Police. Osborne had attended the public meeting, but before the meeting got under way, he was asked to leave and was escorted out of the council chambers by Cook.
Osborne then filed suit on Jan. 21, 2011, claiming a violation of the state’s Open Meeting Law and statutory tort.
Following the jury’s decision, Osborne was awarded $3,600 in damages.
[hat tip/Ron Black]
Watch the Coos County eviction here
Good stuff, thanks susanP.
Self appointed King for Life Messerle would not know the law if it hit him in the head. Laws do not apply to him. And speaking of laws, I took the time to call the Oregon DOJ regarding your pal Al’s comments here and threats against the sheriff to file ethics complaints. The DOJ lady says good old Al would be sent packing.