The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) has secured a victory on appeal in its public records lawsuit against the City of Seattle, brought on behalf of unDivided Media LLC and political commentator Brandi Kruse, a news release from the CADF stated.
The appellate court’s ruling affirms that government agencies cannot evade their obligations under the Public Records Act (PRA), reinforcing the principle that transparency is not optional, the release stated.
The case stems from the City of Seattle’s failure to properly comply with public records requests submitted by Kruse.
CADF won multiple motions at the trial court level, but a superior court judge ruled in favor of the city in cross-motions for summary judgment last year.
CADF appealed after the lower court’s ruling, arguing that the city’s conduct undermined both the letter and spirit of Washington’s transparency laws, the release stated.
The appellate court unanimously agreed, and the decision marks a major step forward in holding public agencies accountable, the release stated.
“This ruling is a win not just for our clients, but for every Washingtonian who depends on government transparency,” said Jackson Maynard, executive director and counsel for CADF. “The PRA exists to ensure accountability, and this decision makes clear that agencies cannot ignore their legal obligations without consequence.”
In the news release, Kruse emphasized the broader impact of the case.
“Public agencies have an obligation to respond to public record requests in a reasonable manner and timeframe, and to follow their own internal rules for doing so,” Kruse said. “When the government tries to withhold information or delay access, it erodes trust. I am hopeful that new leadership in Seattle is learning lessons from past mistakes in order to keep government transparent and accountable for all.”
