public records requests Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

21 Jun, 2023

After 2 1/2 years of delays, journalist files public records suit against Memphis over police audits
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After 2 1/2 years of delays, journalist files public records suit against Memphis over police audits

public records lawsuits Tennessee, requests

After 2 1/2 years of delays, journalist files public records suit against Memphis over police audits

By Deborah Fisher|2023-06-21T09:47:12-05:00June 21, 2023|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee, requests|Tags: delays, Marc Perrusquia, Memphis Police, Paul McAdoo, public records requests|0 Comments

For 2 1/2 years, Memphis journalist Marc Perrusquia has received perfunctory communications from the city of Memphis that it is still reviewing and considering his records request, each time pushing the date for their response down the road. Perrusquia is asking for audits of a Memphis police program that provides intervention for officers who have exhibited behavior or performance problems. However, the city has stonewalled his request, contacting him 41 times over the 2 1/2 years extending the "time necessary" to complete the request. Now he has filed a lawsuit challenging those delays and in an effort to shake loose the audits.

7 Apr, 2022

Three bills improving open government laws clear House and Senate

By Deborah Fisher|2022-04-08T06:05:19-05:00April 7, 2022|Categories: crime records, Legislature, Open Meetings, requests|Tags: deaths in custody, electronic meetings, jails, prisons, public records requests, State Rep. Jeremy Faison, State Rep. Tim Rudd, State Sen. Kerry Roberts, State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, website|0 Comments

Three bills that improve open government have cleared both the House and Senate. One will improve the transparency of public meetings of hundreds of state boards and commissions. Another brings more transparency to deaths that occur in local jails and state prisons. And the third clarifies language in the public records law that sometimes causes confusion over ID requirements and the responsibility of government to search for records.

31 May, 2021

New law targets people who try to disrupt government operations with public records requests

By Deborah Fisher|2021-06-22T16:31:04-05:00May 31, 2021|Categories: Legislature, requests|Tags: harassment, public records requests, State Rep. Jason Zachary, State Sen. Ferrell Haile|0 Comments

A new law that went into effect in late April will allow government officials to seek relief in court from people who use the public records process with an intent to disrupt government operations. The bill was aimed at curbing public records requests from so-called "bad actors." [...]

6 Jan, 2021

Knox County sheriff to appeal judge’s decision in public records case
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Knox County sheriff to appeal judge’s decision in public records case

public records lawsuits Tennessee

Knox County sheriff to appeal judge’s decision in public records case

By Deborah Fisher|2021-01-27T16:50:01-06:00January 6, 2021|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: attorney's fees, Chancellor John Weaver, David Buuck, Knox County Sheriff, Meghan Conley, public records requests|0 Comments

The Knox County Sheriff's Office has filed notice to appeal its loss in a public records case in which the judge found it violated the law in denying access to records requested by a University of Tennessee professor. Chancellor John Weaver in April ordered the sheriff's office to comply with provisions of the public records act governing responses to public records requests and to implement a system to allow public inspection of arrest records. Weaver in December also awarded $78,007 in attorney's fees to the professor who had to bring the lawsuit to force the sheriff's office to turn over records. Knox County Law Director David Buuck's office has filed [...]

2 Dec, 2020

Citizen wins $78K in attorney’s fees, expenses in public records suit against Knox County sheriff
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Citizen wins $78K in attorney’s fees, expenses in public records suit against Knox County sheriff

public records lawsuits Tennessee

Citizen wins $78K in attorney’s fees, expenses in public records suit against Knox County sheriff

By Deborah Fisher|2021-01-27T16:51:19-06:00December 2, 2020|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: attorney's fees, Chancellor John Weaver, Knox County Sheriff, Meghan Conley, public records requests|0 Comments

A Knox County judge last week awarded $78,007 in attorney's fees and expenses to a citizen who took the Knox County Sheriff to court for violating the public records law. Meghan Conley was awarded $78K for attorney's fees and expenses. The decision is another blow to the Knox County Sheriff's Office in a case replete with remarkable claims about the office's inability to locate public records or produce even the most basic records, such as arrest records, for inspection. Chancellor John Weaver had earlier found that the Knox County sheriff had violated the public records law by denying University of Tennessee sociology professor Meghan Conley access to arrest records and [...]