Bakersfield City School District v. Superior Court
Opinion
Opinion
Dawson, J.
Petitioner, Bakersfield City School District (the District), challenges the superior court’s order granting real party in interest, The Bakersfield Californian’s, petition for writ of mandate for access to disciplinary records of Vincent Brothers (Brothers), a district employee. We will affirm.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS
On July 24, 2003, The Bakersfield Californian filed a “VERIFIED PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDATE/COMPLAINT FOR ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS” seeking disclosure of “disciplinary records that [Bakersfield City School District] currently maintains regarding Mr. Vincent Brothers, a District employee.”
On September 5, 2003, after counsel initially argued the matter, the court reviewed the personnel records of Brothers in camera. As to some of the records, the court denied disclosure after concluding that the records were not substantial in nature and that there was no reasonable cause to believe the complaints therein were well founded. However, as to complaints regarding an incident that allegedly occurred on February 20, 1996, which the court described on the record as “Sexual type conduct, threats of violence and violence,” the court found “that complaint…