Judge Dismisses Suit
Hermosa Beach City Councilman Roger Creighton’s 2-year-old lawsuit against the city and former Councilman George Barks was dismissed as “clearly frivolous” this week in Torrance Superior Court.
Creighton, who was elected to the City Council in November, had filed the suit to get access to the checking account that Barks used while arranging trips to Mexico for the Hermosa Beach Sister City Assn. from 1983 to 1985. His suit alleged that Barks, in his organizational role, may have received profits to which he was not entitled.
Torrance Superior Court Judge J. Gary Hastings ruled that because the Sister City Assn. is a private, nonprofit association, its records are not public and that turning over those records would violate the privacy of others involved. He ordered Creighton to pay Barks’ and the city’s legal fees.
Barks could be reached for comment.
Creighton, who criticized the decision, said he has not decided whether he will appeal.
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