Water board pays to end lawsuit by former members who claim utility hid its legal bills
A $77,500 settlement was reached between Central Alabama Water and two former board members who alleged hidden legal expenses.Summary
A dispute between two former Birmingham water board members, George Munchus and Lucien Blankenship, and Central Alabama Water has concluded with a $77,500 settlement. The lawsuit stemmed from the former board members’ claim that the utility violated Alabama’s open records law by denying them full access to detailed legal bills from outside lawyers. Munchus and Blankenship alleged that then-General Manager Michael Johnson restricted their access to monthly invoices, providing only summaries of legal expenses. The utility maintained that board members could review invoices at the office, but lacked detailed information about the services provided. The settlement was approved unanimously by the current Central Alabama Water board following a closed-door session. Attorney Richard Rice, representing Munchus and Blankenship, stated the lawsuit aimed to promote transparency, and the settlement is a “positive step” in that direction. A separate case regarding unpaid board stipends, due to the former members’ refusal to sign a “loyalty pledge,” was previously dismissed by a Jefferson County judge.
(Source：Alabama Local News)