District Court Judge Jessica Peterson granted a stay pending resolution of an appeal. Ultimately, the parties entered into an agreement to dismiss the entire action and to bear their own attorney fees and costs.

District Court Judge Jessica Peterson granted an award of attorney fees in favor of Boulder City and against Steven Morris and Alfonso Noyola in the amounts of $60,860 and $81,888. Judge Peterson cited statutory language, which mandated portions of the award because the City prevailed in dismissing claims under anti-SLAPP principles. Morris and Noyola responded by appealing to the Supreme Court of Nevada.

District Court Judge Jessica Peterson ordered claims 5 and 6 dismissed Steven Morris and Alfonso Noyola responded by appealing the decision to the Supreme Court of Nevada. Boulder City filed a motion for an award of $201,369.37 in attorneys’ fees and $7,819.00 in costs that it alleges were reasonably and necessarily incurred in defending against the claims. The City also asks for a statutory award of $60,000 based upon having prevailed on Anti-SLAPP dismissal. Morris and Noyola opposed, urging a stay pending appeal, but arguing in the alternative that the lack of any basis for the statutory award justifies its denial. At the crux of multiple summary judgment briefs is whether proper notice under the open meeting law was given and whether all actions taken against Morris and Noyola were void if it was not.

District Court Judge Jim Crockett granted Boulder City’s Anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss as to claims 5 and 6. Review this report for further development.

Parties stipulated to continue an upcoming hearing on whether District Court Judge Jim Crockett should issue a preliminary injunction, agreeing to extend the temporary restraining order Boulder City filed an anti-SLAPP special motion to dismiss, asserting that Plaintiff's claims implicated free-speech rights because the City Attorney and manager's termination over alleged misconduct concerned an issue of public concern. Boulder City also sought dismissal for failure to state a claim, citing its own interpretation of the open meeting law Plaintiffs opposed, arguing that a valid employment contract is relevant to claims of retaliatory discharge, intentional interference with contractual relations, civil conspiracy, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing

Alfonso Noyola, Boulder City manager, and Steven Morris, the City Attorney, filed a complaint against Boulder City, challenging efforts to terminate their employment, alleging notice was not provided as required by the open meeting law and urging temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief District Court Judge Jim Crockett granted Our Nevada Judges, Inc.'s request to provide comprehensive electronic coverage