In a compelling legal move, four residents of Delaware County have taken action against local election officials, alleging significant misconduct that undermines public trust. On January 17, 2025, Carris J. Kocher, Leah Hoopes, Gregory Stenstrom, and John Proctor Child filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The defendants named in the case include the Delaware County Board of Elections, Delaware County Council, James Allen, and J. Manly Parks.
The plaintiffs are bringing this lawsuit to address alleged violations of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act and breaches of fiduciary duty by the defendants. They claim that these actions have not only suppressed public participation but also failed to comply with statutory obligations. According to the complaint, such conduct has caused significant harm to both the plaintiffs and the broader public's confidence in governance within Delaware County.
The crux of their allegations centers around a meeting held by the Board of Elections on January 14, 2025. The plaintiffs assert that this meeting was conducted without posting an agenda at least 24 hours in advance as required by law. Metadata from the agenda PDF allegedly shows it was created less than 24 hours before the meeting commenced. Despite objections raised during this meeting by Carris Kocher and Leah Hoopes regarding noncompliance with the Sunshine Act, defendant James Allen reportedly claimed falsely that the agenda had been posted days earlier.
Further accusations involve a history of suppressing public objections during meetings. This includes incidents where plaintiff Gregory Stenstrom was removed from a November 7, 2024 meeting for raising valid concerns and Leah Hoopes faced similar treatment on November 14, 2024. Additionally, there were claims about precinct consolidation proposals being concealed from public notice to avoid objections.
The plaintiffs are seeking several forms of relief from the court. They request that actions taken during the disputed January meeting be declared null and void and seek an injunction requiring compliance with legal procedures moving forward. Financially, they are asking for compensatory damages amounting to $990 for preparation and filing fees along with punitive damages totaling $25,000 per defendant involved.
Representing themselves pro se in this matter are Carris J. Kocher (836 Concord Road #2), Leah Hoopes (241 Sulky Way), Gregory Stenstrom (1541 Farmers Lane), and John Proctor Child (308 Rockingham Road). The case ID is: CV-669248804.