National City Council recesses to closed session to hear two potential litigation matters

The National City Council on May 5 recessed into closed session to hear two matters the city attorney described as "significant exposure to litigation" under Government Code section 54956.9.

The city attorney told the council: "In closed session today, item 5.1, significant exposure to litigation. We are going to be hearing 2 cases pursuant to paragraph 2, subdivision d, of government code section 54956.9." The chair said the council would report out any action at the end of the regular meeting.

No public details about the nature of the claims were disclosed in open session. The council completed the announced closed session and indicated it would resume regular business after a brief pause; the attorney's announcement was the only public description of the closed-session topic in the meeting transcript.

Because Government Code §54956.9 authorizes closed-session discussion of litigation exposure under limited circumstances, the council's action is consistent with state open-meeting law provisions permitting confidentiality for pending or anticipated litigation discussions.