A judge has issue a summary judgment ending one portion of the open records lawsuit against the City of Clinton. A district court judge found the City of Clinton violated the open records law in not releasing the records of a series of six closed meetings held regarding the lawsuit filed over the ambulance service billings practices.

The judge’s ruling came after a two-hour meeting, with the city agreeing to pay a $4.5-million fine and penalty for the Medicare and Medicaid billing practices. A trial to determine what if any penalties should levied and whether the city or individual council members will pay those penalties is now set for January 30th.

(Reporting by Dave Vickers, KROS, Clinton)