Tevlin: Minneapolis is hiding behind disclosure law

Article by: JON TEVLIN , Star Tribune
Updated: October 29, 2012 - 7:56 PM

What happens when the city's head of regulatory services resigns after only nine months on the job, with a complaint pending against him, and bags a mysterious $70,000 payout? The city claims that person, Gregory Stubbs, is not a "public official."

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SeaSharkOct. 30, 1212:38 PM

REP. PAM MYHRA (R-Burnsville) should introduce a bill in the 2013 Legislature amending her original amendment, and expand the definition of a "public official" to cover individuals in a management capacity no matter who they report to.

quincy7981Oct. 30, 12 1:22 PM

Anfinson is absolutely right. In some cases, the city may actually WANT to release the information, but if they do, Stubbs (or other employees like him) would point to that technicality in the law and sue almost immediately due to privacy laws. And he would win. Tevlin may be able to to put together an "aw shucks, this just doesn't pass the common sense test," but the reality is, if the city releases that information, they'd open themselves up to a lawsuit. So how is that "hiding behind" the law. More like protecting themselves from it by not violating it.

dewarfOct. 30, 12 3:00 PM

Hey, it's what lawyers do. Unfortunately, the law has nothing to do with justice or what's right -- it has to do with dispute resolution and all for lining the pockets of the lawyers involved. It's why an issue never gets resolved; the lawyers simply keep it alive and cash in on the conflicting positions and litigation. Cha-ching! And of course the courts -- they're staffed by a bunch of promoted lawyers. So Tevlin, we should expect something better? Get your head out of the sand -- it's how the legal profession works.