Opinion ID: 2585533
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: CATA has Standing to Tender the Issues Under Consideration.

Text: ¶ 7 The City challenges CATA's standing to pursue this action. Standing refers to the legal rights of a person to challenge the conduct of another in a judicial forum. Hendrick v. Walters, 1993 OK 162, ¶ 4, 865 P.2d 1232, 1236 (footnote omitted). A party whose standing is challenged must show (1) actual or threatened injury, (2) for which relief can be given, and (3) the interest to be protected is within a statutorily or constitutionally protected zone. Id. at 1236-37; In re Initiative Petition No. 363, 1996 OK 122, ¶ 13 n. 29, 927 P.2d 558, 565 n. 29. These interests must not only be direct, immediate and substantial, but the litigant must also have a personal stake in the outcome. Hendrick, 865 P.2d at 1237; Brandon v. Ashworth, 1998 OK 20, ¶ 6, 955 P.2d 233, 235. In standing issues, the question is whether the party invoking the court's jurisdiction has a legally cognizable interest in the outcome of the controversy. Democratic Party of Oklahoma v. Estep, 1982 OK 106, ¶ 7, 652 P.2d 271, 274 (footnotes omitted). The doctrine of standing ensures a party has a personal stake in the outcome of a case and that the parties are truly adverse. See Hendrick, 865 P.2d. at 1237. ¶ 8 The Open Records Act provides that any person denied access to a record of a public body or public official may bring a civil suit for declarative and/or injunctive relief. 51 O.S.2001, § 24A.17(B). According to the record, two attorneys from the law firm of Conner & Winters submitted the request at issue on behalf of certain taxpayers and other citizens. CATA's certificate of incorporation reveals that the two attorneys who submitted the records request are listed as CATA's incorporators, along with one other person. Further, Conner & Winters represented CATA at the trial level and in this appeal. ¶ 9 We conclude there is a sufficient connection between Conner & Winters and CATA as it relates to the Open Records request to support CATA's standing to pursue this appeal. Although CATA was not legally formed until after the request at issue was made, two of its three incorporators tendered the request which the City denied. Accordingly, CATA can be said to be substantially aggrieved by the City's refusal to disclose the documents at issue. ¶ 10 The purpose of a standing requirement is to ensure courts address actual controversies between parties who have sufficient adverse interests. This case has been litigated intensely at both the trial level and on appeal, and there is no danger this Court will be misled by the failure of the parties to adequately explore and argue the issues. Accordingly, we find CATA has a sufficient stake in the outcome of this case to prosecute the appeal. We now turn to CATA's contentions on appeal.