Forum owner sues over Clippers deal

The owner of the Forum sued Inglewood on Friday, accusing the city of violating California’s Public Records Act in connection with a deal for the Clippers to explore building an arena near the landmark sports and concert venue.

In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the Madison Square Garden Co. said the city produced just five documents — most already available to the public — in response to wide-ranging public records requests to the city and two related agencies. All of the documents were dated after the June 15 announcement of the city’s three-year exclusive negotiating agreement with the Clippers.

The lawsuit called the lack of documentation “inconceivable” and “implausible.” “Respondents’ assertions that they lack any additional records responsive to petitioners’ PRA requests simply is not credible,” the complaint said.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said he had no knowledge of the lawsuit and that the city provided all relevant records.

The lawsuit asks the court todirect Inglewood to turn over all relevant records and for the city to pay legal fees resulting from the litigation.