Support Citizen Lawsuit vs DougCo Board of Commissioners

WHAT: This GoFundMe project requests voluntary donations from engaged citizens to support the Lawsuit filed April 22, 2025, by Douglas County residents Marshall, Thomas, and Gooden.

THE ASK: The sole purpose of this GoFundMe is to raise funds to help legally challenge what appears to be illegal government conduct in court.

This fund will help offset funds that the three Plaintiffs (Gooden, Marshall, Thomas) have been providing on their own to prosecute this action for the public interest. The Plaintiffs fully endorse this GoFundMe.

THE SUIT: The Suit alleges that the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), consisting of Defendants Abe Laydon, George Teal, and Kevin VanWinkle, blatantly violated Colorado Open Meetings laws by conspiring out of the public eye to place the issue of Home Rule before voters on June 24, 2025.

Colorado Voters enacted Colorado's Sunshine Laws (Open Meetings) in a 1972 citizens referendum over the objection of the political classes. The fundamental rule is that "...public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret."

This Lawsuit asks the Court to find and declare that the BoCC (Laydon, Teal, Van Winkle) violated Colorado's Open Meetings Law when it engaged in discussions of public business among two or more members without providing advance notice and the opportunity for the public to observe those meetings.

It also asks the Court to enjoin the BoCC (Laydon, Teal, VanWinkle) from continuing to violate the Open Meetings Law.

Lastly, this Lawsuit asks the Court to preliminarily and permanently enjoin the BoCC (Laydon, Teal, VanWinkle) from moving forward to implement two Resolutions that were adopted in violation of the Open Meetings Law and are therefore invalid.

WHEN: Plaintiffs filed the Lawsuit on April 22, 2025.

A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for April 29, 2025, in District Court, Douglas County.

FILING ID: ED5FD4934C669

CASE NUMBER: 2025CV30410

PRESS RELEASE:

Concerned Citizens vs Douglas County Commissioners

MEDIA COVERAGE:

Douglas County Commissioners Violated Law on Open Meetings, Lawsuit Claims. Douglas County NewsPress, April 22, 2025.

DETAILS: All proceeds will be remitted to the client trust account of the law firm ZANSBERG BEYLKIN LLC as retainer funds to cover professional legal services and litigation costs provided by that firm.

Any award for attorney fees and costs that exceeds reimbursement of the plaintiffs' out-of-pocket expense for attorney fees and costs to prosecute the case will be donated to the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition (CFOIC).

A public accounting of those funds shall be provided after the case.

Due to the anticipated nature of legal action, donations are not refundable.

GoFundMe project management provided as a public service by Registered Colorado Business 20251478215 - GoFUNDMe DougCo Citizen Suit vs Douglas County BoCC 4025, LLC.

Agent, Lloyd Guthrie