Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
File #: 18-0042    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Request, Closed Session Status: Agenda Ready
In control: Office of the General Counsel
On agenda: 3/7/2018 Final action: 3/7/2018
Title: The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, by an affirmative roll call vote of 2/3 of the Board Members appointed and serving, hereby resolves to: 1) Meet with legal counsel in closed session pursuant to Sections 8(e) and (h) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act to discuss settlement strategy in James Abbott, et al v City of Detroit, et al, and 2) Authorize the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
Indexes: Finance Committee
Title
The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, by an affirmative roll call vote of 2/3 of the Board Members appointed and serving, hereby resolves to: 1) Meet with legal counsel in closed session pursuant to Sections 8(e) and (h) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act to discuss settlement strategy in James Abbott, et al v City of Detroit, et al, and 2) Authorize the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.


Body
Agenda of March 7, 2018
Item No. 18-0042
Closed Session Request

TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan

FROM: Debra N. Pospiech, Esq., Chief General Counsel, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department

RE: James Abbott, et al v City of Detroit, et al,
United States District Court Case No. 2-17-cv-10761-BAF-RSW

MOTION
Upon the request of Chief General Counsel Debra N. Pospiech, Esq., the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, by an affirmative roll call vote of 2/3 of the Board Members appointed and serving, hereby resolves to: 1) Meet with legal counsel in closed session pursuant to Sections 8(e) and (h) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act to discuss settlement strategy in James Abbott, et al v City of Detroit, et al, and 2) Authorize the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.

BACKGROUND
Section 8(e) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act allow a public body to meet in closed session: "To consult with its attorney regarding trial or settlement strategy in connection with specific pending litigation, but only if an open meeting would have a detrimental financial effect on the litigating or settlement position of the public body." Section 8(h) allows a public body to meet in closed session: "To consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute." Section 7 of the Act requires an a...

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