City offers to settle lawsuit over open-meeting law

The Seattle city attorney has offered to pay about $4,000 in city funds to settle a lawsuit that alleged city officials broke the state’s open-meetings law when they repealed a head tax on businesses before a public meeting and vote.

A copy of the settlement offer says the payment would cover any civil fines for breaking the law, but the city will not admit any wrongdoing.

A spokesman for the city attorney declined to comment on the offer Thursday.

The Seattle Times reports Lincoln Beauregard, the plaintiff’s lawyer, sent a response letter to Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes that said they wouldn’t accept the offer.

The lawsuit’s plaintiff and Seattle-based attorney James Egan says he is still weighing whether to accept the offer and is open to public feedback.