By Miki Mullor
Editor
Dear reader,
Eight years ago I began writing for the Sammamish Comment, investigating, reporting and engaging with the Sammamish community. Today I want to share an important update.
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Category Archives: General
Washington Supreme Court Declines to Hear $10 Million Sammamish Records Lawsuit
By Miki Mullor
Editor
- The Washington Supreme Court declined to review former Councilmember Ramiro Valderrama’s lawsuit against the city of Sammamish.
- Valderrama sought $10 million to settle the case; the city had offered $75,000.
- Lower courts dismissed the case, citing no wrongdoing by council members.
- Allegations by political ally Stephanie Rudat were found to be hearsay and unsubstantiated.
- The lawsuit resulted in over $400,000 in legal costs for city taxpayers.
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Washington Court of Appeals Upholds City of Sammamish’s Public Records Process Amidst $10 Million Settlement Demand
By Miki Mullor
Editor
The Washington Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that the City of Sammamish did not violate the state’s Public Records Act (PRA) in handling requests from former Deputy Mayor and City Council member Ramiro Valderrama. The decision, issued on December 16, 2024, comes after a contentious legal battle that included accusations of bad faith and a $10 million settlement demand from Valderrama.
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Valderrama Wanted $10 Million to Settle His Public Records LawsuitÂ
By Miki Mullor
Special Coverage
Jan. 29, 2024: Former Sammamish Deputy Mayor/City Council member Ramiro Valderrama wanted $10 million, plus attorneys’ fees, to settle his lawsuit filed in March last year alleging the city failed to turn over public records.
Valderram alleged violations of the Public Records Act by council members he politically opposed, specifically targeting former Mayor Christie Malchow, former council member Ken Gamblin and then-and current council member Kent Treen.
Records from the litigation show Valderama’s attorney demanded in September $10 million to settle the case, along with a public statement by the city, to be approved by Valderrama, acknowledging city council members violated the Public Records Act.
Last month, a judge dismissed the lawsuit, finding the city and council members followed the law. The judge issued a summary judgment (meaning, no jury or bench trial) on the city’s motion to dismiss. Valderrama this month filed a notice with the King County court that the decision will be appealed to the state appellate court. He has about three months from the January 11 notice to file his case with the higher court.
The city provided the Sammamish Comment documents through Public Records Requests (PRRs) showing the legal bill for the city’s defense is now up to $340,000, not including the city clerk’s staff time. Earlier in the litigation, a month after filing, and before incurring its legal fees, the city offered Valderrama $75,000 to settle the case, which he refused.
Transcripts of depositions taken in this case were made public through a PRR and reveal a political connection between Valderama’s case, the investigation of former city manager David Rudat, Stephanie Rudat’s connection to both these issues and an apparent political revenge as a motive. Stephanie is the daughter of David. Malchow was one of the council members who voted to initiate the Rudat investigation.
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Judge tosses Valderrama’s public records lawsuit vs Sammamish
By Miki Mullor
Special Coverage
Dec. 15, 2023: A King County Superior Court judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed by former city councilman Ramiro Valderrama alleging Public Records Act violations.
The judge granted a Summary Judgment motion by the city and denied a competing motion by Valderrama. The case was slated to go to trial in March, but a Summary Judgment means there was enough evidence to conclude the case based on information already filed with the court. The ruling is a sweeping victory for the city and a crushing defeat for Valderrama.
In ruling for the city and against Valderrama, Judge Paul Crisalli concluded that several pieces of Valderrama’s testimony, declarations, and depositions he obtained were based on hearsay and speculation.
A political and legal saga, the PRR case was started by Valderrama against the city and several council members almost two years ago.
Superior Court Judge Paul Crisalli’s order:
- Exonerates former Mayor Christie Malchow, former council member Ken Gamblin and council member Kent Treen of wrongdoing.
- Ends a host of conspiracy theories advanced by Valderrama since late 2021.
- Found that certain depositions and testimony were based on hearsay and speculation.
Valderrama filed his lawsuit after engaging in a year-long public campaign in which he accused Malchow 26 times during city council meetings in 2022 of breaking the public records law. Valderrama, who coined his accusations “Malchowgate”, did not present evidence during these meetings to back his accusations.
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