12/17/2024
1. Open Meetings Laws (Sunshine Laws):
• Public officials are generally subject to Open Meetings Laws or Sunshine Laws, which require certain meetings to be open to the public when discussing matters of public interest.
• These laws typically apply to governmental bodies, such as city councils, boards, and committees, and require transparency when they meet to make decisions.
• If public officials met privately to influence or orchestrate the closure of a business, it could potentially violate these laws if the matter was public in nature.
2. Abuse of Power and Ethics Violations:
• If elected officials or regulatory board members (like an ABC board) used their position to unfairly target or close a business, it could be considered abuse of power.
• Most jurisdictions have ethics boards or agencies where complaints about such behavior can be filed.
