Cohousing-L Mailing List: Confidentiality and the Law

[O3C11N6G (normangauss]

According to California law, the only permitted confidentiality is with 
executive sessions of the Board on certain specified matters.

All other venues are considered open forums.  This is the purpose of the "Open 
Meetings Act".  All statements made in these open forums are considered 
political and here free speech prevails.  In a recent lawsuit concerning 
statements about the incompetence of a Board member, the court ruled that all 
comments on both sides of the case are for public consumption.  The claim for 
damages because of libel or defamation were denied.

Norm G.