Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Paul Gattone
2 Law Office of Paul Gattone
301 S. Convent
Tucson, Arizona 85701
3 (520) 623-1922
State Bar Number: 012482
4 gattonecivilrightslaw@gmail.com
5 Counsel for Plaintiffs
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1 its “resources . . . or any other thing of value of the city or town, for the purpose of influencing
4 in order to circulate signature petition sheets that would qualify an initiative to be placed on the
5 November 2019 municipal ballot (hereafter “Proposition 205”)1. The applicable statute prohibits
6 the use of a city’s resources to influence the outcome of a ballot initiative “upon the filing for a
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serial number.” Ariz. Op. Att’y Gen. No. I15-002 (July 30, 2015). Yet Defendants immediately
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began to engage in electioneering efforts against Proposition 205, in direct violation of state law.
9 3. Approximately one month after the citizen’s group obtained its serial number, the City Attorney
10 invested City resources to prepare a legal memo assessing the legalities of Proposition 205.
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Rather than offering his legal advice to his clients in a confidential setting, the City Attorney took
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the extraordinary step of issuing the memo publicly and distributing it to local reporters. The
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City Attorney chose this approach in order to influence public opinion about Proposition 205. As
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15 was intended by the City Attorney, various city officials later relied upon the memo to urge
16 Tucson voters to vote ‘no’ on Proposition 205. Opponents of Proposition 205 continue to use the
17 City Attorney’s publicly-issued memo as the basis to encourage City voters to vote “no” on
18 Proposition 205.
19 4. Since February 2019, Councilperson Steve Kozachik has distributed to Tucson voters at least
20 five communications discussing Proposition 205. Kozachik did so through his weekly e-
21 newsletters distributed to thousands of Tucson voters from his official government email account
22 and archived on the official Tucson government website. In these email communications,
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Kozachik disseminated information in a manner that was not impartial, employing rhetorical
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This citizen-led initiative was assigned a ballot number in August 2019 following certification by the City Clerk’s
25 office. Prior to obtaining a ballot number, the initiative was referred to as “Tucson Families Free and Together” and is
also referred to colloquially as the “sanctuary city” initiative. For simplicity in this complaint, “Proposition 205” is used
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1 strategies that attempt to persuade the voter to vote ‘no’ on Proposition 205. Many of the ‘facts’
2 included in the Kozachik newsletters are drawn from the City Attorney memo, which itself was
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prepared with the express purpose of advocating a ‘no’ vote on Proposition 205.
4 5. On October 8, 2019, the City Attorney, the City Manager, and the Chief of Police issued a joint
5 memorandum purportedly for the purpose of “being responsive” to a number of questions that
6 had been posed to them by “City Council members and other members of the community.” To
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the contrary, the City Attorney, City Manager, and Chief of Police prepared and distributed the
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memorandum with the express purpose of influencing the outcome of an election mere days
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before voters are set to receive ballots in the mail.
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JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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12 6. This Complaint raises a special action pursuant to the Arizona Rules of Procedure for Special
13 Actions, the forebear to which (Writ of Mandamus) was authorized to be heard by this Court,
14 pursuant to Article VI, Sec. 18 of the Arizona Constitution and A.R.S. § 12-2021.
15 7. Special Action is appropriate here because there is no equally plain, speedy, and adequate
23 for monetary damages against any Defendants and all prayers for relief are of an exclusively
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1 12. Venue is proper in this Court because the Plaintiff is headquartered and based in Pima County.
2 Plaintiff seeks relief against a municipal entity situated in Pima County, and a substantial part of
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the events or omissions giving rise to this action occurred in Pima County.
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PARTIES
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13. Plaintiff People’s Defense Initiative (hereafter “PDI”) is a nonprofit organization recognized
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under the laws of Arizona and is a 501(c)(4) organization under Title 26 of the United States
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8 Code.
14. Plaintiff PDI is a community-led grassroots organization dedicated to building a radically
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inclusive and transformative movement focused on implementing progressive and inclusive
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policies which promote community engagement defend human rights.
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15. Plaintiff PDI advocates passage of Proposition 205 in Tucson.
12 16. Plaintiff Zaira Livier is a qualified voter in Arizona and resides within the boundaries of the City
13 of Tucson. Plaintiff Livier serves as the Executive Director of PDI and, as a recently naturalized
14 U.S. citizen, will exercise her right to vote for the first time by voting for Proposition 205 – an
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initiative that she is proud to have helped craft.
16 17. Plaintiff Travonne Smith is a qualified voter in Arizona and resides within the boundaries of the
17 City of Tucson. Plaintiff Travonne Smith has devoted many volunteer hours advocating for the
18 passage of Proposition 205.
19 18. Plaintiff Vivian Smith is a qualified voter in Arizona and resides within the boundaries of the
20 City of Tucson. Plaintiff Vivian Smith has devoted many volunteer hours advocating for the
23 of Tucson. Plaintiff Dutz has devoted many volunteer hours advocating for the passage of
24 Proposition 205.
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1 20. Plaintiff Maria Johnson is a qualified voter in Arizona and resides within the boundaries of the
2 City of Tucson. Plaintiff Johnson has devoted many volunteer hours advocating for the passage
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of Proposition 205. Plaintiff Johnson also serves as a campaign strategist for PDI.
4 21. Plaintiff Patrick Callahan is a qualified voter in Arizona and resides within the boundaries of the
5 City of Tucson. Plaintiff Callahan has devoted many volunteer hours advocating for the passage
6 of Proposition 205.
22. Plaintiff Amanda Anyaeji is a qualified voter in Arizona and resides within the boundaries of the
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8 City of Tucson. Plaintiff Anyaeji has devoted many volunteer hours advocating for the passage of
9 Proposition 205.
23. Defendant City of Tucson is a municipal corporation under laws of Arizona.
10 24. Defendant Rankin serves as the City Attorney for the City of Tucson. Defendant Rankin is sued
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in his official capacity.
12 25. Defendant Ortega serves as the City Manager for the City of Tucson. Defendant Ortega is sued in
15 subdivision of the City of Tucson. Defendant Magnus is sued in his official capacity.
27. Defendant Kozachik serves as a city councilor for the City of Tucson, representing Tucson’s
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Ward 6.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS
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19 Proposition 205
20 28. On December 4, 2018, Plaintiffs filed with the Tucson City Clerk’s Office an application for a
21 serial number for a city initiative petition, pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 19-111, 19-141, 19-143, Chapter
22 XIX of the Tucson City Charter, and Chapter 12 of the Tucson City Code.
23 29. On the same day, the Tucson City Clerk’s Office issued serial number 2018-I001 to Plaintiffs’
2 application form.
32. Between December 2018 and July 2019, more than 140 community members collected more
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12 Mayor and City Council his “evaluation of the . . . potential legal implications” of Proposition
13 205 and providing “impartial and factual information” related to the same.
36. Rankin expended city resources to research, prepare, draft, and edit the January 16
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1 40. Upon information and belief, additional City employees, working within the City Attorney’s
2 Office, also expended compensated staff time in researching the January 16 Memorandum and in
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assisting Rankin during the weeks of December 31, 2018, January 7, and January 14.
4 41. Upon information and belief, City employees working within the City building located at 270 S.
5 Stone Ave also devoted compensated staff time to researching and assisting in the preparation of
12 City, acting by and through the Mayor and Council. See, e.g., Tucson City Charter Chapter X,
13 Sec. 4 (“[the City Attorney] shall . . . give his advice or opinion in writing, whenever requested
14 to do so by the mayor and council.”).
15 46. Typically, a written legal opinion is rendered by the City Attorney as part of the attorney-client
16 relationship. See, e.g., Ariz. R. Prof. Conduct 1.13 (“a lawyer employed or retained by an
17 organization represents the organization acting through its duly authorized constituents.”); Ariz.
18 R. Prof. Conduct 1.13, Comment 10 (“A government lawyer may have an obligation to render
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advice to a government entity and constituents of a government entity. Normally, the government
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entity, rather than an individual constituent, is the client.”)
21 47. As such, a written legal opinion typically may not be shared by the City Attorney with a non-
22 client without the express permission of the client. See, e.g., A.R.S. § 12-2234 (“an attorney shall
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not, without the consent of his client, be examined as to . . . his advice given thereon in the
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course of professional employment”).
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1 48. In this instance, Rankin noted that the January 16 memorandum “does not provide legal advice
2 relating to a proposed or contemplated action by the Mayor and Council [but rather] the legal
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implications to the City connected with legislation proposed by third parties.”
4 49. Rankin’s justification finds no support in Arizona law and, indeed, Arizona courts have held that
5 the relevant statutory attorney-client privilege is broader than that historically recognized in the
6 common law.
50. The City Attorney’s client may decide to publicly disclose a legal opinion communicated to his
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8 client only through its duly authorized constituents, which, in this instance, is the City Council
17 that the January 16 Memorandum be made public, at least in part, to encourage City voters to
18 vote “No” on Proposition 205, should it appear on the ballot.
19 55. Rankin’s decision to publicly release the January 16 Memorandum is relevant insofar as it
20 indicates Rankin’s and other city officials’ intentions in January 2019 to influence the outcome of
23 warned the Mayor and Council against “the use of City resources to influence the outcome of an
2 January 16 Memorandum fails to employ neutral language in several sections. For example, the
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January 16 Memorandum:
4 a. States that the authors of Tucson Families Free and Together “attempt to provide special
5 protection . . . for persons detained for . . . child molestation or sexual abuse” and that the
6 authors “attempt to protect detainees of certain crimes”, without any evidence or support
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for this proposition.
8 b. States that Tucson Families Free and Together “give[s] a higher level of protection
9 against immigration inquiries to persons detained for sex crimes against minors”, without
10 any explanation or support for this proposition.
c. Comments, in what can best be described as a sarcastic tone of voice, on “the wisdom of
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12 a policy that would give a higher level of protection . . . to persons detained for sex
15 memorandum makes several facially false legal claims and conclusions, presumably designed to
16 influence the outcome of the election. For example, Rankin contends in the January 16
17 Memorandum that several aspects of Proposition 205 are “contrary to state law”, without any
18 legal analysis for that conclusion nor any citation to authority. Thus, the January 16
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Memorandum employs rhetorical strategies that attempt to persuade the voter to vote ‘no’ on
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Proposition 205.
21 60. Within hours of being released, the January 16 Memorandum attracted media attention in local
22 news outlets.
23 61. In the days following the January 16 Memorandum, the following headlines appeared locally:
a. “‘Sanctuary City’ effort in Tucson conflicts with state law, city attorney says”
24 b. “City atty: ‘Sanctuary city’ initiative may violate SB1070”
c. “Tucson faces potential legal battle with state over ‘sanctuary city’ petition”
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1 62. Between January 2019 and August 2019, staff and volunteers of Plaintiff PDI have been
2 informed by numerous Tucson voters that the January 16 Memorandum and/or media coverage
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of the January 16 Memorandum directly influenced how they intend to vote on the Tucson
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Families Free and Together initiative.
5 63. On numerous occasions, Tucson voters who would ordinarily be inclined to support the policy
6 preferences embraced by Proposition 205 have expressed that they intend to vote “no”, on the
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exclusive basis of the information conveyed in the January 16 Memorandum.
8 64. Taken as a whole, the January 16 Memorandum unambiguously urges the reader to vote in a
15 67. On January 18, 2019, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild appeared as a radio guest on the Bill
23 Memorandum which, upon information and belief, was written and made public at the request of
24 Rothschild.
71. Taken as a whole, the January 18 Interview unambiguously urges the listener to vote in a
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particular manner – ie, to vote “no”.
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1 72. Reasonable minds could not differ as to whether the January 18 Interview encourages a vote for
4 other instances in making public comments and giving public interviews urging a ‘no’ vote on
5 Proposition 205.
74. Although Mayor Rothschild is not a named Defendant, his January 18 interview and other
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subsequent public comments were informed by the January 16 Memorandum, which in turn was
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8 the product of the expenditure of City resources and which had the express purpose of
21 on Proposition 205, he presents a view that is neither impartial nor neutral by conjecturing about
22 hypothetical negative consequences that could possibly befall the City, without regard to the
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statistically remote possibility of such eventuality. Similarly, Kozachik omits details that would
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lend to support of Proposition of 205 and amplifies details that are designed to attract opposition
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to Proposition 205.
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1 81. Similar to Mayor Rothschild, Kozachik has publicly cited the January 16 memorandum to
4 Kozachik would not have been able to cite to Rankin’s legal analysis as among the reasons
8 of City resources and which had the express purpose of influencing the outcome of an election,
25 radio and television interviews knowing that a certain number of his subordinates would read,
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1 watch, and/or listen to Defendant Magnus’ comments relating to Proposition 205. Thus,
2 Defendant Magnus used “the authority of [his] position to influence the vote” of subordinate
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employees, in violation of A.R.S. § 9-500.14(D).
4 91. On October 8, 2019, Defendant Magnus, along with Defendants Rankin and Ortega, co-authored
13 decisionmaking processes of third parties over which city officials have no power or control, and
14 about which they have no authority to predict. Such statements are clearly designed to instill in
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the public an unfounded fear of the negative consequences of voting ‘yes’ on Proposition 205.
16 96. Within minutes of issuing the October 8 Memorandum, it was distributed via numerous public
19 Memorandum on October 8 precisely because ballots are set to be mailed to all Tucson voters on
20 October 10. Despite the fact that Magnus, Rankin, and Ortega were aware of Proposition 205 for
21 several months, they chose to release the Memorandum immediately prior to the start of voting.
98. Consequently, the context of the October 8 Memorandum suggests that it was prepared with the
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1 99. Plaintiffs are entitled to a declaration that Defendants’ past and continuing behavior that has the
2 purpose and objective effect of influencing the outcome of the November 2019 municipal
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election is a violation of A.R.S. § 9-500.14.
4 COUNT TWO: INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
100. Plaintiffs can demonstrate both a likelihood of success on the merits and a probability of
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irreparable harm if the Court does not grant relief.
6 101. Plaintiffs can demonstrate that the harm to Defendants is minor (if any), should the Court
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grant Plaintiff’s injunctive relief
8 102. Plaintiffs can demonstrate that he equities tip sharply in favor of granting injunctive relief.
COUNT THREE: SPECIAL ACTION MANDAMUS RELIEF
9 103. Special Action relief is appropriate because there is no equally plain, speedy, and adequate
10 remedy available to Plaintiffs.
104. Special Action is appropriate because Plaintiff seeks an Order from this Court requiring
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12 Defendants to perform a duty that is: ministerial in nature; that the law specially imposes as a
2 ameliorate and mitigate the deleterious effects of the unlawful prior distribution of the
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January 16 Memorandum and October 8 Memorandum; and
4 E. Granting Plaintiff’s petition for special action mandamus relief and exercise this
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