City of Hollywood v. Hakanson

Gary Hakanson, former risk manager for the city of Hollywood, obtained a declaratory judgment against the city. The judgment established that Frank Yamout, president of the Hollywood civil service board, to which Hakanson filed an appeal after his employment was terminated, had received an undisclosed ex-parte communication which triggered a presumption of prejudice pursuant to section 286.0115, Florida Statutes. We reverse.

Section 286.0115, Florida Statutes, requires public officials to disclose ex-parte communications in order to assure an adverse party the opportunity to confront, respond,…