Judge blasts LA Coliseum Commission for stonewalling

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles city official has called for a perjury investigation after a judge ruled the Memorial Coliseum Commission head testified falsely to investigators.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Luis Lavin issued an order banning the commission from discussing various matters behind closed doors, stating the members could not be trusted to obey California open-government laws.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles Times seeking information on the stadium commission's lease negotiations with the University of Southern California.

Lavin found commission Administrator John Sandbrook misled Times attorneys in depositions about the lease.

"In light of the commission's refusal to admit any wrongdoing, its aversion to transparency ... and Sandbrook's false testimony ... the court finds that the commission will continue its unlawful practices," Lavin wrote.

The Times said its lawsuit alleged the commission ignored open-meeting laws while negotiating a sweetheart lease for the USC football program behind closed door. The lease, the Times said, amounted to USC being given control over the taxpayer-supported Coliseum and a lion's share of the revenues.

The commission did not immediately respond to the ruling, but Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks Friday called for the district attorney's office to investigate Sandbrook for perjury.