LANSING – Michigan Legislators will have to produce documents regarding their correspondence with third parties in discovery for litigation, according to a ruling from the bench Friday morning from federal magistrate Judge Ellen Carmody.
The ruling came in a suit Tesla Motors has brought against the state, alleging the state discriminated against it by blocking its manufacturer-owner stores.
Carmody ruled Rep. Jason Sheppard (R-Lambertville) and Sen. Joe Hune (R-Fowlerville) will have to open up communications were made up to one year before the legislation was enacted that stopped Tesla’s stores and six months afterward.
“I have not concluded that (legislative) privilege extends to any third-party communications. That’s where I stand right now,” Carmody said. “The protection is really for the deliberative process the legislature undergoes.”
As to the particulars of what documents would have to be revealed, that would have to be sorted out between the attorneys, Carmody ruled.
This political update was provided by the Small Business Association of Michigan.
