Court refuses to throw out Farmers Branch lawsuit

05:25 PM CDT on Monday, October 15, 2007
By STEPHANIE SANDOVAL / The Dallas Morning News
ssandoval@dallasnews.com

A state appeals court has refused to throw out a lawsuit against Farmers Branch that says city officials violated open meetings laws by deciding behind closed doors the first version of an ordinance banning apartment landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.

The ruling issued late Friday by 5th District Court of Appeals Judge Molly Francis could pave the way for attorneys to start evidence discovery, which could force the city to divulge what was said in those closed-door discussions, said attorney William A. Brewer III. Mr. Brewer, of the Bickel & Brewer Storefront, represents the plaintiff in the lawsuit, Farmers Branch resident Guillermo Ramos.

The two sides disagreed on the importance of the ruling.

“I view it as the most important step in the process,â€