WILL:
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has settled a landmark open records lawsuit with the Madison Metropolitan School District (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. WILL was represented by the Wisconsin Transparency Project.
The Quotes: Dan Lennington, WILL Deputy Counsel, stated, “A whistleblower notifed us in early 2022 that MMSD had a racially discriminatory policy of treating black students more favorably than students of other races. MMSD stonewalled for over a year. Now they’ve paid the price, disavowed the policy, and committed to significant reforms. This is a huge victory for transparency.”
Cory Brewer, WILL Associate Counsel, added, “Institutions funded by taxpayers cannot ignore members of the public who seek answers. WILL is prepared to hold school districts accountable for their actions—our lawsuits reflect that.”
Details of the Agreement: MMSD will pay $18,000, including $7,386 in attorney fees and court costs and the remainder in punitive damages. Because of the litigation, MMSD has agreed to take the following additional steps: