Court Opinion

ID: 9569494
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:14:21.499123+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:01:22.751087
License: Public Domain

CHIEF JUSTICE CARRICO, with whom JUSTICE HASSELL joins,
dissenting.
With respect to the trial court’s finding that the chair of the board of trustees of the Virginia Retirement System violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I would hold that the court erred in applying a burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. The Act requires a finding that a violation has been willfully and knowingly made, and I think the necessity for such a finding calls for a higher burden of proof.
I would require proof of a violation by clear and convincing evidence. And, judged by that standard, the evidence, in my opinion, falls far short of establishing a willful and knowing violation of the Act. Indeed, it seems to me that one has to struggle mightily to make out a violation by a preponderance of the evidence, much less by clear and convincing evidence.
Accordingly, I would reverse the finding that the chair of the board of trustees of the Virginia Retirement System willfully and knowingly violated the Act. And, since I agree with the majority that the trial court erred in ruling that the RF&P board is a public body, I would also reverse the award of attorney’s fees and costs to George Little.