Goode v. Department of Social Services

Plaintiffs, who are an individual and three welfare rights organizations, seek to compel defendant, Michigan Department of Social Services, to conduct its contested case hearings in conformity with the Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.261 et seq.; MSA 4.1800(11) et seq. This is an original action for mandamus.

Plaintiffs contend that the Open Meetings Act is violated by the defendant’s having approximately 75 percent of the hearings conducted by telephone conference calls and that decisions regarding the hearings are not publicly made. Defendant planned to make the teleconference hearings standard…