Ken Jakes

3 Aug, 2017

Sumner County School Board blames the Office of Open Records Counsel for bad advice

By |2018-11-16T15:13:59-06:00August 3, 2017|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

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 defend, then appeal, a public records lawsuit that it lost. From The Tennessean: "We are disappointed that the court decided that the board’s former policy did not comply with a 2008 version of Tennessee’s public records statute, especially because the Office of Open Records Counsel, which has the legal duty to interpret the act, informed the board that its policy was lawful and that its response to Mr. Jakes’ request was appropriate under the law," a statement reads. "The board [...]

2 Aug, 2017

Appellate court upholds ruling: Sumner County Schools violated public records law

By |2017-08-03T08:06:28-05:00August 2, 2017|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: , , , , , , , |1 Comment

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 Records Act. Sumner County Board of Education attorney Jim Fuqua. In March 2014, the Sumner County Board of Education denied Ken Jakes' request to see the board's public records policy, saying he had to make the request in person, or send it via U.S. Postal Service. Jakes sued, the Sumner County trial court found in his favor, and the school board voted to appeal the ruling. The school board's attorney, Jim Fuqua, testified that he was relying on [...]

12 Dec, 2016

Hendersonville Standard: Legal bills climb to $238K in Sumner Schools public records case

By |2016-12-12T12:09:12-06:00December 12, 2016|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee, requests|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

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 case to more than $238,000. The case stemmed from a lawsuit brought by Joelton resident Ken Jakes who requested to see the school district's public records policy. He made the request by email and a followup phone call. The school district denied the request, saying their policy dictated he must make the request in person or through letter delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. From left: Citizen Ken Jakes and Sumner Schools attorneys Todd Presnell and Jim Fuqua listen [...]

5 Dec, 2016

TCOG encourages citizens to comment on draft model public records policy

By |2016-12-05T13:12:20-06:00December 5, 2016|Categories: Public Records, requests, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

The Office of Open Records Counsel is giving the public a chance to review and comment on a draft of a statewide model public records policy. A new law requires all government entities in Tennessee to adopt a public records policy by July 1, 2017. [T.C.A. §10-7-503 (g)]. The law also requires the Office of Open Records Counsel, a state agency housed in the State Comptroller’s Office, to develop a model best practices and public records policy that can be used by the government entities. The deadline for commenting is Dec. 15. Comments and feedback should be sent to [email protected]. The model draft policy is extensive and includes many new guidelines [...]

26 Oct, 2016

TCOG files amicus brief in Sumner County case over emailed public records request

By |2016-10-28T08:03:53-05:00October 26, 2016|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee, requests, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: , , , , , , |1 Comment

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 that government entities do not have to accept a public records request sent by email. The case stems from a public records request made by citizen Kenneth Jakes in March 2014 to inspect the Sumner County Board of Education's public records policy. The school district denied the request, saying the method in which Jakes made the request -- by email and a followup phone call -- did not meet their requirements. Jakes was told he had to mail the request through the U.S. [...]

Go to Top