The below document was sent to the Sequoia Healthcare District on August 8,2017. I received a copy of the original document from SHD Counsel, Mark Hudak, in response to my request. I submit it here in the interest of transparency. Personally, I think it should have been released much sooner "by the district".
By Certified US Mail and Facsimile (650) 421-2159
Re: Notice of Violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and Intent to File Lawsuit.
Dear Mr. Michelson and Clerk to the Board:
The Law Offices of Melo and Sarsfield LLP is a law firm that practices in the area of voting rights law. We represent a group of voters who reside within the jurisdictional boundaries of Sequoia Healthcare District. We have been retained to initiate a lawsuit for the District's violation of the California Voting Rights Act, Election Code Section 14025 et. seq. This lawsuit will be filed in San Mateo County Superior Court after the 45 day litigation hold required by AB 350.
The pending lawsuit is based upon the District's illegal use of "at large" voting to elect members of the Board of Directors. The District use of at-large voting is in violation of the California Voting Rights Act.
At large voting schemes are unfair to minority voters and suppress minority vote turnout in violation of both state and federal election law. It should also be noted that since the passages of the CVRA in 2001, no governmental agency sued has ever prevailed where racially polarized voting has been shown.
