Maddie Franz
DAVENPORT, Iowa — A new ruling in an open records lawsuit against the City of Davenport allows a trial to go forward as planned.
News 8 reported on a ruling in another suit against the city last week. This is a separate case, but it still centers on a $1.6 million settlement agreement with former city administrator Corri Spiegel. It’s over the delayed release of Spiegel’s demand letter in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
What started with a public records request turned into a legal fight with Davenport resident Ezra Sidran. He filed a FOIA for documents related to settlements with Spiegel and two other city employees. The city later sued him to ask a judge whether Spiegel’s letter was a private HR document or a public record.
“The city sued me to hide the Spiegel demand letter, and they hid it for 363 days,” Sidran said.
He claims the year-long delay amounts to an Open Records Act violation, and the Davenport City Council at the time is responsible.
“Iowa law is exceptionally clear—that the elected officials of a municipality are the legal custodians for the public records of that city. The end,” Sidran said.
Wednesday morning, the judge….
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