Valderrama Wanted $10 Million to Settle His Public Records Lawsuit

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.

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.

Ramiro 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.

Smoking Gun: City Manager Rudat action to delete emails and records subject to Public Records Requests

By Scott Hamilton

A text message from David Rudat, the former Sammamish city manager, to Christie Malchow, at the time the deputy mayor, directing her to delete emails subject to public records requests surfaced this week while Malchow responded to a more recent public record request. 

Rudat ethics report released, finally

By Scott Hamilton

June 17, 2022: The 40-page summary of the ethics probe into former Sammamish City Manager Dave Rudat has been released to Sammamish Comment, pursuant to a public records request.

The release does not include all data, facts, and findings and it includes redactions for specific legal advice and certain names.

The entire report is here:

rudat-investigation-report-redacted-finalDownload

In a quick summary, here are some highlights:

Summary

BREAKING NEWS: Moran resigns from city council

By Miki Mullor
Editor

Council member Karen Moran has resigned from the Sammamish City Council effective June 15. Moran was first elected to city council on November 2017, served as a mayor in 2020-2021 and was re-elected in November 2021 for a second term, with over 75% of the vote.

Karen Moran

This is the second resignation this week and third this year, following Christie Malchow’s resignation yesterday and Ken Gamblin’s resignation in January.