The Nevada Commission on Ethics on Wednesday voted to defend itself in a lawsuit filed by Washoe County School Board Trustee Joe Rodriguez. Rodriguez sued the commission in September, alleging a violation of the open meeting law.
The commission’s legal counsel asked for permission to defend the agency against claims that the commission’s July meeting violated Nevada’s open meeting laws. The lawsuit alleges that when the commission voted to defend itself in a Nevada Supreme Court challenge — an appeal also filed by Rodriguez — it violated the open meeting law because Rodriguez’s character was mentioned during the meeting.
The commission voted to give its counsel authority to defend against the lawsuit, including filing any necessary motions. One commissioner recused herself from the vote, citing a potential conflict of interest. Amanda Yen works for the McDonald Carano law firm, which Rodriguez hired to sue the commission.
The motion, which passed unanimously among voting members, also gave the commission’s chair and vice chair the power to consult with legal counsel on any issues that might arise during the case.
Rodriguez is challenging the commission’s finding that he violated ethics laws by having photographs of himself on his campaign website showing him in his state fire marshal uniform. He was fined $1,000 but successfully got the decision overruled in district court. The commission in July voted to appeal the district court decision by Judge Kathleen Sigurdson.
Rodriguez is running for Sparks City Council.
