Sacramento County Taxpayers League Says the Sacramento City Officials Are Wasting...

Sacramento County Taxpayers League Says the Sacramento City Officials Are Wasting Taxpayer Money over K Street Lawsuit

Bob Blymyer Says, "City Officials Should Pay the Legal Fees, Not
Us!"
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--The Sacramento County Taxpayers League called on City officials,
not taxpayers, to pay the legal fees associated with fighting a group
of Downtown property owners in Court.

In September, a Superior Court judge ruled that the city of
Sacramento must pay property owner Moe Mohanna and other K Street
landlords more than $42,000 to cover their attorney's fees in
defending themselves against a city lawsuit.

"With mounting budget deficits looming, City officials continue to
throw away taxpayer money, and it isn't right," said Bob Blymyer, the
League's executive director. "A highly respected Superior Court judge
ruled that the City shouldn't have brought this case against the
property owners. Now, taxpayers will have to foot the bill. It's time
we make City officials pay for this mistake out of their own pockets!"

In most decisions, government officials are not held personally
liable. Blymyer said they should, under some circumstances, pay for
their mistakes personally.

"City officials didn't like the initial ruling, so they went out
and hired the most expensive appellate court lawyer they could find, a
premier Sacramento attorney to appeal," Blymyer said. "This time an
Appellate Court judge issued a one sentence denial. By holding the
city officials personally responsible, city officials may think twice
before spending our money so foolishly."

The city had been seeking to enforce a land exchange agreement
Mohanna had signed. After a fire and demolition altered the condition
of the properties, the City sued Mohanna for failing to execute the
agreement. Superior Court Judge Loren E. McMaster previously ruled
that the city is unlikely to prevail in its suit against Mohanna and
was not justified in filing a legal notice of action. Now, the City is
set to use the power of eminent domain. The public hearing scheduled
for December 11th was postponed until December 18th.

Founded in 1961, the Sacramento County Taxpayers League is
comprised of a diverse group of business, professional and industrial
organizations, who are greatly concerned with our community and the
most effective use of our tax dollars. For more information
www.obsnews.com

Sacramento County Taxpayers League
Bob Blymyer, 916-399-5600

Copyright Business Wire 2007