In college, Cory Briggs had aspirations of being a rock star.
When that didn’t pan out he thought about following in his family’s footsteps and becoming a teacher. That too didn’t workout.
Eventually he enrolled in a few philosophy courses at the University California Riverside and found some professors who took him under their wings and helped him pursue a law degree.
Briggs, 46, enters his 20th year making a living as an environmental and open government attorney.
He’s taken on the city of San Diego many times with open government and environmental issues.
He’s stopped big-box developments like Walmart from opening shop.
He was also part of a team that helped remove former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner from office after sexual harassment claims were made against the former congressman.
Now Briggs may sue the city of Chula Vista.
Chula Vista resident Chris Shilling contacted Briggs after a public records request was denied.
Briggs and attorney Livia Borak sent the city a demand letter on Jan. 21 asking the city to release the list of nominees, and to cure and correct the appointment process for alleged Brown Act violations that included holding a private meeting during their nomination phase of the process.
“I understand that because they committed a very serious violation of the law, frankly they committed multiple very serious violations of the law, that they have themselves in a bit of a pickle,” he said.
The city on Feb.17 took no action in closed session pertaining to this matter.
Briggs has sued the city of Chula Vista once before over the proposed expansion of a Target store because of its environmental impact. He won that case in 2011 in the court of appeals.
A judge had ruled that the expansion “would likely disturb contaminated soil,” but it rejected challenges to the project based on air pollution and greenhouse gas impacts.
In February 2011 he also sent a letter to the city of Chula Vista asking the city to redo its appointment of Anne Moore as the city’s representative to the Port Commission.
Briggs had alleged several Brown Act violations in Moore’s appointment because the city did not lawfully inform the public that the council would take action on the appointment of a new port commissioner to represent the San Diego Unified Port District.
The city did not redo Moore’s appointment, and Briggs did not pursue litigation.
Shilling said he brought Briggs onboard because he serves as a watchdog for city officials.
“Getting him involved in the South Bay to help hold our elected and appointed officials accountable for following the law was a natural choice.
“A message needs to be sent that the old way of doing business is over, and he gets results.”
San Diego Councilman David Alvarez said in an email that Briggs brings issues to light.
“Cory works diligently to bring issues to the public’s awareness,” Alvarez said. “Although we don’t always agree, I value his effort and opinion.”
But Briggs knows that not everyone thinks fondly of him.
“I think many of my opponents try to characterize me as an obstructionist, trouble maker; I just do it (file lawsuits) to shake people down for money,” he said.
Briggs said he files lawsuits to make the environment better, make government transparent and, of course, to get paid.
Briggs said he is serious about suing the city of Chula Vista if they don’t fix the appointment process.
“If this (appointed) person remains on the City Council, this probably won’t be the last letter that they (city) get from my office,” he said.
