Legal News

Cal State Stanislaus ordered to make Palin appearance documents public

By Richard Binder

Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Roger M. Beauchesne has ordered Cal State Stanislaus officials to release documents related to Sarah Palin's fundraising appearance at the university, saying it was a violation of the state's open-records law to have refused to do so.

When the university and a foundation affiliated with the campus were sued in April for not disclosing details of Palin's contract, officials argued that the nonprofit foundation that hosted the former Republican vice presidential candidate was not subject to the state's Public Records Act. They also argued that the contract with the Washington Speaker's Bureau, which represents Palin, was confidential.

Beauschesne agreed that the foundation was not subject to the records law, but found that the university failed to follow correct procedures and that Cal State Chancellor Charles B. Reed "used" the contract to the university's advantage.

According to the foundation, Palin was paid $75,000 for her appearance.

Full story at LATimes.com.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on August 27, 2010 (boomark / email).