A shipping association requested documents from the port agent for a few California ports under the Public Records Act [Government Code section 6250, et seq.]. A port agent refused and the association filed a Writ of Mandate, which the trial court granted and which order the Court of Appeal declined to overturn.
Personal Email Account Used For Public Business…Why Does That Sound Familiar?
The California Public Records Act [Government Code section 6250 et seq.] provides that “a party” may file a petition for the issuance of an extraordinary writ to challenge an order of the trial court either directing or refusing disclosure under the Act. A group which advocates for open government successfully moved for the trial court to order disclosure of emails from the personal account of a city attorney pertaining to official business over a five year period.