Carolina Journal’s Barry Smith reports on the lawsuit against the city contending that it violated the state’s open Meeting Law in its negotiations with the Panthers and decision to fund Bank of America Stadium improvements through a tax increase. A highlight:

“They deliberated and voted secretly for a plan to raise the prepared food and beverage tax for stadium renovations,” said Mike Cozza, a former TV newsman and one of the plaintiffs in the case. “There’s no exemption in the Open Meetings Law that allows closed discussion or votes for a tax plan.”