Airport Officials Sued Over Secrecy
A North Hollywood man has filed a lawsuit against Burbank Airport officials, claiming they violated state law by holding a closed-door meeting in December to discuss an issue not on the public agenda.
Airport officials expect to hire a lawyer who will handle the case and formally respond to the eight-page complaint before the end of the month, Airport Commissioner Robert Garcin said Friday.
R.C. (Chappy) Czapiewski, an aviation buff who regularly attends meetings at Burbank Airport, is seeking to have any actions the airport’s legal committee took behind closed doors on Dec. 12 revoked.
The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Czapiewski contends he overheard airport officials discussing strategies related to a lawsuit filed against them by the city of Los Angeles, an item not on the agenda. “I obey the law and they should, too. The (Ralph M.) Brown Act is the law,” Czapiewski said.
Garcin responded to the claims by saying Czapiewski’s “recollection and written statement misrepresent and misstate the facts.”
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
