Lawsuit: Village of Oakley Violates FOIA Again

For Immediate Release | May 07, 2015
https://olcplc.com/public/media?1431029576

Oakley, Michigan - On behalf of a woman who lives in Shiawassee County, Outside Legal Counsel of Hemlock has filed another lawsuit against the Village of Oakley for ignoring requests for financial information about the small but controversial government on the line between Saginaw and Shiawassee counties.

It is alleged in the complaint, filed with the 35th Circuit Court in Shiawassee County, that a multi-part Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted on April 8th for governmental financial records and budgets has gone intentionally unanswered by village officials yet again.

The Village was previously involved with a two-year court battle to deny the release of the names and identities of the Village's secret police force of nearly 150 reservists. The Village is one square mile in size.

The lawsuit seeks an order against Village of Oakley compelling the disclosure of the public records requested, attorney fees, and the maximum punitive damages available. In addition, the suit asks the court to order the Village to comply with all FOIA provisions into the future.

The case has been assigned to Judge Matthew J. Stewart in Corunna, Michigan.
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