Cotati will have to pay an $80-thousand settlement to a speaker who was silenced at a city council meeting. A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed in April of 2021 by George Barich, a former member of the Cotati City Council, and Laurie Alderman, a local resident. Barich, who could not attend a meeting in 2019, asked Alderman to read a three-minute statement on his behalf. But, the city council wouldn’t allow it. Alderman made a similar request at another meeting two weeks later, and had a notarized copy of a power of attorney signed by Barich authorizing her to speak on his behalf. But, she was denied again. The pair sued the city and former Mayor John Dell ‘Osso, who was in charge of the council at the time. Cotati also gave an outside law firm 200-thousand-dollars to defend the city in the case.
Cotati to Settle with Former Councilman and Resident Over Being Silenced at City Council Meetings
