WILL v. MMSD

Case Name: Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty v. Madison Metropolitan School District

Type of Case: Equality Under the Law, Constitutional Government and Rule of Law

Court: Dane County Circuit Court

Filed On: January 17, 2023

Current Status: WILL secured a settlement from MMSD containing thousands of dollars in punitive damages and reforms to how the school district processes open records.

MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYS PUNITIVE DAMAGES AND COMMITS TO SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC RECORDS REFORM

August 7, 2023 | WILL has settled a landmark open records lawsuit with MMSD, securing thousands of dollars in punitive damages and reforms to how the school district processes open records. This is a major victory for government transparency and the equal treatment of all students in Wisconsin.

WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICT REFUSES TO RELEASE EVIDENCE OF RACE DISCRIMINATION

January 17, 2023 | The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) is suing the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) for refusing to provide public records related to a racially discriminatory policy.

Background: WILL Deputy Counsel Dan Lennington submitted the original records request in January 2022, and then followed up on March 8, August 4, September 19, September 28, November 18 and December 6 with no response other than a single comment from MMSD that “we will review this request as soon as practical.”

WILL Intern Dylan Palmer also requested records from MMSD on June 1, 2022 asking for a “complete list of school board adopted textbooks on file with the clerk.” The district responded June 2 saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused “staff constraints” that had caused them to “experience a delay in responding to requests.”

Other institutions and individuals have also faced significant resistance by MMSD in obtaining public records, including NBC 15.