MORGANTOWN – The state’s largest newspaper has sued West Virginia University alleging the school’s Board of Governors have violated the state’s open meeting law.
H-D Media, doing business as The Charleston Gazette Mail, filed the complaint in Monongalia Circuit Court against the WVU Board of Governors.
According to the complaint, the board has met in executive session five times since June to discuss issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice and other topics.
The state’s open meetings law says public agencies generally must meet in public. Some topics, such as personnel matters, can be handled behind closed doors.
The Gazette-Mail says the board’s violation of the open meetings law has deprived the newspaper and members of the public their rights to educate themselves “about government decision-making through individuals’ attendance and participation at government functions, distribution of government information by the press or interested citizens, and public debate on issues deliberated within the government.”
If closed meetings are allowed to continue, the newspaper says the public will be harmed.
The newspaper is asking the court to enter an order declaring the board violated open meeting laws and an order enjoining the board to open its meetings. It also seeks attorney fees, court expenses and other relief.
The paper is being represented by Sean McGinley of DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress in Charleston.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number 20-C-300