Tennessee School Boards Association files amicus in Sumner Schools public...
The Tennessee School Boards Association, which collects dues and represents nearly all school districts in the state, has filed an amicus with the Court of Appeals in a public records Continue Reading...
View ArticleMetro Nashville must pay nearly $57K in attorneys fees in public records case
Senior Judge Robert E. Lee Davies ordered Metro Nashville to pay nearly $57K in attorneys fees to a public records requester, saying that the city “misinterpreted and ignored the ‘promptness’ Continue...
View ArticleTCOG files amicus brief in Sumner County case over emailed public records...
The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government has filed an amicus curiae brief with the Court of Appeals in Nashville in a case in which the Sumner County Board of Education argues Continue Reading...
View ArticleHendersonville Standard: Legal bills climb to $238K in Sumner Schools public...
The Hendersonville Standard recently reported that Sumner County School Board had another $125,237 in legal bills after voting to appeal a public records ruling, bringing the total cost of the Continue...
View ArticleJudge rules Fall Creek Falls privatization records should be released
In a win for government transparency, Davidson County Chancellor Bill Young ruled today that government records requested by the Nashville Scene regarding the privatization of Fall Creek Falls State...
View Article7-month quest for Gatlinburg fire records reflects poorly on state transparency
The November 2016 Gatlinburg fire killed 14 people and cost millions of dollars in damages. It was one of Tennessee’s worst disasters. A central question remains: Why did state and Continue Reading...
View ArticleAppellate court reverses trial court, upholds attorney fee provision in...
The Court of Appeals on Thursday found a Lynnville city recorder was willful in denying a citizen access to inspect public records when she required an upfront $150, and remanded Continue Reading...
View ArticleAppeals Court: Records in Memphis police chief search not public
The Court of Appeals ruled this week that applications sent to a police association charged with interviewing and identifying finalists for a new Memphis police chief last year do not Continue Reading...
View ArticleAppellate court upholds ruling: Sumner County Schools violated public records...
The Court of Appeals has affirmed a Sumner County trial court’s ruling that the denial of a public records request because it was sent by email violated the Tennessee Public Continue Reading Tennessee...
View ArticleSumner County School Board blames the Office of Open Records Counsel for bad...
The Sumner County Board of Education blames the Office of Open Records Counsel for bad advice that led it on a journey of spending almost $250,000 of taxpayer money to Continue Reading Tennessee...
View ArticleAppeals court rules economic development organization subject to public...
In a win for a group of citizens in East Tennessee, the Court of Appeals in Knoxville ruled this week that a nonprofit economic development organization in Jefferson County is Continue Reading...
View ArticleDelaying access to public records violates law, appeals court rules
Government entities cannot ignore the requirement in the Tennessee Public Records Act to provide access to records promptly and still be in compliance with the law, according to an appellate Continue...
View ArticleColumn: Opioid trial must be completely open
In 2007, the state of Tennessee and 25 other states reached a $19.5 million settlement agreement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, who they alleged was violating consumer laws in Continue Reading...
View ArticleNewsChannel 5 files suit after denied access to Jason Locke travel...
NewsChannel 5 has filed a public records lawsuit after it was denied access to travel reimbursement and phone records related to former acting TBI director Jason Locke’s alleged affair with Continue...
View ArticleJudge rules against Phil Williams saying public records can be withheld if...
Another blow was dealt to public records access in Tennessee this month when NewsChannel 5 lost a case in Chancery Court in Davidson County related to a recent controversy involving Continue Reading...
View ArticleTCOG, Associated Press, Gannett, Sinclair, others file amicus brief in...
Several news organizations and the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government have filed an amicus brief in a case under appeal in which ordinary public records were swept into an investigative Continue...
View ArticleSociology professor studying immigration files public records suit against...
A sociology professor who researches immigration enforcement has filed a public records lawsuit against the Knox County Sheriff, claiming the office has repeatedly violated the law in denying and...
View ArticleCourt of Appeals reins in state’s expansive use of investigative exemption
The Tennessee Court of Appeals in a ruling on Friday put much-needed limits around the so-called investigative exemption that has been used by the state to cloak otherwise public records. Continue...
View ArticleBlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Optum file reverse public records suits to stop...
Three large health care companies who contract with the state to administer the state’s employee health care plan have filed lawsuits to prevent the Department of Finance and Administration from...
View ArticlePublic records case against Knox County sheriff showcases thorny problems for...
A public records lawsuit filed in April against Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler appears to be lurching slowly toward resolution. After two days of a bench trial on Dec. 9 Continue Reading Tennessee...
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