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Digitally signed

by Joseph H
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email=jz12345@e

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS arthlink.net, c=US


Location: La
Verne, California

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Date: 2010.02.03


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ZEV YAROSLAVSKY
SUPERVISOR TI1 RO C
SUPER\iEiOOR ,;... STf~'C:
DiSTRICT

January 27,2010

Dianne Nezgoda
9851 Yoakum Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Re: Richard Fine

Dear Ms. Nezgoda:

This is in response to your inquiry about the incarceration of Richard Fine. I have
consulted with our County Counsel, who has advised that, notwithstanding contentions
to the contrary, the incarceration of Mr. Fine is not due to his complaints and criticisms
about the County providing funding to pay for benefits for Los Angeles County Superior
Court jUdges. As explained briefly below, after a trial in which he represented himself,
Mr. Fine was found guilty of contempt for disobeying court orders. The County was not
involved in the contempt trial. The County also does not have any ability to release Mr.
Fine or any standing to request the Court to do so.

information provided by County Counsel, the contempt case did arise from
According to infonmation
an environmental lawsuit filed by a homeowners' association about a development
project that the County had approved in Marina del Rey. However, while the County
and the project developer were both sued by the homeowne~s association, the
contempt finding arose out of Mr. Fine's refusal to pay sanctions that the court awarded
to the developer against Mr. Fine. Specifically, Mr. Fine refused to comply with
legitimate discovery (information) requests from the developer, including declining to
show up for a deposition in which he would have to answer questions under oath.
County Counsel advises me that they believe Mr. Fine will be released if he agrees to
answer questions at a deposition and provide information on his finances, but that he
has steadfastly refused to do so.

As I indicated at the outset, while the County was a party in the underlying
environmental lawsuit, it was not a party to. and did not participate in, the contempt
proceedings against Mr. Fine. Mr. Fine's incarceration is now a matter for the courts.
Neither I individually, nor the Board of Supervisors collectively, have the ability to
compel his release.
/
On a personal note, I have had a good relationship over the years with Mr. Fine and
have been very troubled that he has been incarcerated for so long over this matter.
However. this is a situation he got himself into, and he has the power to resolve it
himself as well.

Sincerely,

OSLAVS:J,>'-
or, Third istrict

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