Case 2023CV000003
4 Filed 01-09-2023 Page 1 of 11 FILED 01-09-2023 Clerk of Circuit Court Richland County, WI 2023CV000003
VALLEYSENTINEL, P.O.Box144 SpringGreen,WI53588
SUMMONS Plaintiff,
CaseNo.23-CVv. ClassificationCode: VILLAGEOFLONEROCKBOARDOF 30952Mandamus TRUSTEES, 314EastForestStreet LoneRock,WI53556
TAMMYCHRISTIANSON,inhercapacityasVillage ClerkoftheVillageofLoneRock 314EastForestStreet LoneRock,WI53556, and DANQUINN,inhiscapacityasPresidentoftheVillage ofLoneRockBoardofTrustees 314EastForestStreet LoneRock,WI53556, Defendants
THESTATEOFWISCONSIN, ToeachpersonnamedaboveasaDefendant:
YouareherebynotifiedthatthePlaintiffnamedabovehasfiledalawsuitor otherlegalactionagainstyouThecomplaint,whichisattached,statesthenatureand basisofthelegalaction.
Withinforty-five(45)daysofreceivingthissummons,youmustrespondwith awrittenanswer,asthattermisusedinchapter802oftheWisconsinStatutes,tothe
complaint.Thecourtmayrejectordisregardananswerthatdoesnotfollow therequirementsofthestatutes.Theanswermustbesentordeliveredtothecourt, whoseaddressis181SeminaryStreetorPOBox427,RichlandCenter,WI53581and toGaryGrass,Plaintiff’sattorney,whoseaddressis6060North77thStreet,Milwaukee, WI53218.Youmayhaveanattorneyhelporrepresentyou.
Ifyoudonotprovideaproperanswerwithinforty-five(45)days,thecourt maygrantjudgmentagainstyoufortheawardofmoneyorotherlegalaction requestedinthecomplaint,andyoumayloseyourrighttoobjecttoanythingthatis ormaybeincorrectinthecomplaint.Ajudgmentmaybeenforcedasprovidedbylaw. Ajudgmentawardingmoneymaybecomealienagainstanyrealestateyouownnow orinthefuture,andmayalsobeenforcedbygarnishmentorseizureofproperty.
Datedthis6thdayofJanuary,2023. GARYGRASS StateBarNo1035738 AttorneyforPlaintiff 6060N77thSt Milwaukee,WI53218 (414)324-9639
Case 2023CV000003 Document 4 Filed 01-09-2023
3 of 11 FILED 01-09-2023 Clerk of Circuit Court Richland County, WI 2023CV000003
VALLEYSENTINEL, P.O.Box144 SpringGreen,WI53588
COMPLAINT Plaintiff,
CaseNo.23-CVv. ClassificationCode: VILLAGEOFLONEROCKBOARDOF 30952Mandamus TRUSTEES, 314EastForestStreet LoneRock,WI53556
TAMMYCHRISTIANSON,inhercapacityasVillage ClerkoftheVillageofLoneRock 314EastForestStreet LoneRock,WI53556, and DANQUINN,inhiscapacityasPresidentoftheVillage ofLoneRockBoardofTrustees 314EastForestStreet LoneRock,WI53556, Defendants
LAW,LLC,andasandforitsComplaintagainsttheDefendants,statesasfollows:
INTRODUCTION
1. Thisisanactionunderpublicrecordslawbyacommunitynewspaper againstlocalofficialsforawrittocompeltheproductionofdocuments,forattorney fees,andforotherrelief
PARTIES
2.PlaintiffLowerWisconsinRiverValleySentinel,LLC,d/b/aVALLEY SENTINELisaWisconsinDomesticLimitedLiabilityCompany(EntityIDL068429) andnewsmedia/pressorganizationwithmailingaddressPOBox144inthevillageof SpringGreenintheCountyofSaukItisamemberoftheWisconsinNewspaper Associationandpublishesanindependentbiweeklygeneralinterestnewspaper,the “ValleySentinel,”coveringlocalnews,artsandculture,events,outdoorsand recreation,andmeetingsinthegreaterLowerWisconsinRiverValleycommunity thatincludesSpringGreen,Arena,LoneRock,Plainandthesurroundingareasin Sauk,IowaandRichlandcounties.
3.TheVillageofLoneRockisavillageorganizedunderChapter61ofthe statestatutes.ItislocatedinRichlandCounty,Wisconsin,withitsvillagehallat314 EastForestStreet
4 TammyChristiansonistheVillageClerkofLoneRockThevillage clerkisa“localoffice”withinthemeaningofthattermasusedinsection19.32(1)of thestatutesandsheasholderofthatofficeisan“authority”havingcontrolof publicrecords.Sheisalso“custodian”ofvillagerecordspursuanttostatestatutes 1933,6125,anduponinformationandbeliefpursuanttotheordinancesofthe VillageofLoneRock.
5.DanQuinnisthePresidentoftheVillageofLoneRockBoardof Trusteesanditschiefadministrativeofficer.Thepresidentisan“electedofficial”
holdinga“localoffice”withinthemeaningsofthosetermsastheyareusedin section19.32(1)ofthestatutesandassuchheisan“authority”havingcontrolof publicrecords.Heisalsodefault“custodian”ofvillagerecordspursuanttostate statute19.33,anduponinformationandbeliefhasaresponsibilitytoensure provisionofopenrecordsunderstatestatute61.24andtheordinancesoftheVillage ofLoneRock.
EVENTS
Thefactsinthisparagraphareprovidedforcontextandarenotpart oftheessenceofPlaintiff’sclaims:InOctoberandearlyNovember,2022,theVillage ofLoneRockwasproducingitsannualbudget.Plaintiffhadrequestedinwritingto receivenoticesofVillageofLoneRockofficialmeetingsunderWis.Stat.paragraph 1984(1)(b)At6:06:50pmonNovember1,DefendantTammyChristianson,inher capacityasLoneRockVillageClerk,emailedPlaintiffforthefirsttimeformal noticeofabudgetmeetingtobeheldat7:00p.m.thatevening.Thebrevityof noticespurredaseriesofemailsamongtheparties.
6
7.OnNovember1,2022Plaintiff,byitsprincipalNicoleAimone,usinga ValleySentinelemailaccountandidentifyingherselfasactingforthebusiness, madearequestforrecords(hereinafter“RequestNumberOne”)toDefendant TammyChristianson,inhercapacityasLoneRockVillageClerk,byemailtoher officialaccountatvlr.clerk@villageoflonerock.com,statinginpartasfollows:
Thisistorequest,undertheStateofWisconsin’sPublicRecordsLaw,Wis Stat§§1931-1939thefollowingrecords,inelectronicformat:
1.Anyandallvideoandaudiorecording(s)oftheNov.1,2022public hearingheldbytheVillageBoard(including,butnotlimitedto,any Zoomrecordings).
2.Anyandallvideoandaudiorecording(s)oftheNov.1,2022meetingof theVillageBoard(including,butnotlimitedto,anyZoomrecordings).
3.Anyandallbudgets,bids,resolutions,permits,hiringstheVillageBoard (purportedly)approvedattheirNov.1,2022meeting.
4.Anyandallemailsorothercommunicationssentorreceivedbythe VillageClerkregardingnoticefortheNov.1,2022publichearingand VillageBoardmeeting(including,butnotlimitedto,thoseregarding postingorpublishing).
5.Anyandallemailsorothercommunicationssentorreceivedbythe VillagePresidentregardingnoticefortheNov1,2022publichearing andVillageBoardmeeting(including,butnotlimitedto,those regardingpostingorpublishing)
8.OnNovember1,2022Plaintiff,byitsprincipalNicoleAimone,usinga ValleySentinelemailaccountandidentifyingherselfasactingforthebusiness, madearequestforrecords(hereinafter“RequestNumberTwo”)toDefendant TammyChristianson,inhercapacityasLoneRockVillageClerk,byemailtoher officialaccountatvlrclerk@villageoflonerockcom,statinginpartasfollows:
ItappearstherewasalsoaOct.31specialmeetingthatwedidn'treceiveany noticefor.
Thisistorequest,undertheStateofWisconsin’sPublicRecordsLaw,Wis Stat§§1931-1939thefollowingrecords,inelectronicformat:
1.
Anyandallvideoandaudiorecording(s)oftheOct.31,2022meetingof theVillageBoard(including,butnotlimitedto,anyZoomrecordings).
2.TheagendaoftheOct.31,2022specialVillageBoardmeeting.
3
ProofofpropernoticeoftheOct31,2022specialVillageBoardmeeting
4
5.
AnyandallactionstheVillageBoard(purportedly)approvedat theirOct31,2022meeting
Anyandallemailsorothercommunicationssentorreceivedbythe VillageClerkregardingnoticefortheOct.31,2022publichearingand VillageBoardmeeting(including,butnotlimitedto,thoseregarding postingorpublishing)
6.
AnyandallemailsorothercommunicationsreceivedbytheVillage Clerkfromatleasttwotrusteesrequestingaspecialmeetingofthe VillageBoardonOct.31,2022(Wis.Stat.§61.32"...Specialmeetingsmay becalledbyany2trusteesinwriting,filedwiththeclerk,whoshall thereuponseasonablynotifyallthetrusteesofthetimeandplace thereofinthemannerdirectedbythebylaws")
7.
AnyandallemailsorothercommunicationssentbytheVillage Clerkseasonablynotifyingallthetrusteesofthetimeandplaceof thespecialmeetingoftheVillageBoardonOct31,2022
9.OnNovember11,2022,Plaintiff,againbyNicoleAimone,usingthe sameaccountandaspartofthesameemailthread,madethefollowingfurther inquiry: Wealsowantedtorequest[anacknowledgementof]receiptofourpublic recordsrequestsfromNov1andideallyanacknowledgmentindicating whenaresponsereasonablymightbeanticipated.
10OnNovember14,2022,DefendantTammyChristianson,usingher officialaccountrepliedaspartofthesameemailthread,withacopytoDefendant DanQuinnviahisofficialvillagepresidentaccount,statingintheentirelyasfollows:
Hi, TheVillageofLoneRockdoesnothavealocalpaper
Ourrequirementsaretopostin3placeswithinthevillage,24hoursin advance.Thishasbeenmet.
NotifyingnewsmediaisaFYIonly.
SomeonefromValleySentineldidlogintoZOOMthatevening.
11.BecauseDefendantChristianson’smessagewasareplywithina continuingthreadofemails,thecopyofhermessagetoDefendantQuinn containedthethreadofpriormessagesincludingbothrecordrequests.
12OnDecember12,2022,Plaintiff,againbyNicoleAimone,usingthe sameaccountandaspartofthesameemailthread,madethefollowingfurther inquiry:
Didyouhaveanupdateonourtwopublicrecordsrequests?
13NeitheranyoftheDefendantsnoranyoneactingontheirbehalfhas sentPlaintiffanyresponsiverecordssincethisrequest
14.NeitheranyoftheDefendantsnoranyoneactingontheirbehalfhas sentPlaintiffanyformaldenialofrecordsorstatedanyreasonwhyrecordswould notorshouldnotbeprovided.
15Notalloftherecordssoughtbyeitherrequest,(andoninformation andbeliefnoneofthoserecords)isorwouldbesubjecttoanylimitationupon accesspursuanttosection19.36ofthestatutesoranyotherprovisionoflaw.
FIRSTCAUSEOFACTION
PlaintiffagainstAllDefendantsforDenialofRequestNumberOne
16.Plaintiffincorporatesparagraphs2-5,7,and9-15asthoughfullyset forthherein
17Plaintiffhadaclearrighttosome(andoninformationandbeliefall) oftherecordssoughtbyRequestNumberOne,supportedbysection19.35(1)(a)of thestatutes.TheDefendantshadaplainlegaldutytodisclosetherecords.
18.PlaintiffhasaninterestintherecordssoughtinRequestNumberOne becausetheircontentsarelikelytoincludemattersofpublicinterestwhichPlaintiff wouldconsiderreportingaspartofthepress.Withverylimitedexceptionssuchas itsownemailexchangeswithDefendantChristianson,Plaintiffhasnotacquired thewithheldrecordsfromanyothersource.
19.Defendantsviolatedsection19,35(1)bynotprovidingresponsive recordssought
20.Defendantsviolatedsection19,35(4)(a)bytakingmorethan66days (andcounting)toreleaseanyrecord.Thedelayhasbeenandcontinuestobe arbitrary.
21.Defendantsviolatedsection19.35(4)(a)bynotspecifyinganyreasons fordenyingaccesstotherecordssoughtbyRequestNumberOne.Thefailureto provideanyreasonsfordenialrendersthedenialarbitraryandcapricious.
22Defendantsviolatedsection1935(4)(b)bynotprovidinganynoticeof therighttoseekcompelledreleaseoftherecordssoughtbyRequestNumberOne bymandamus.
23.Plaintiffrequiresmandamusreliefbecauseithasnoadequateremedy atlaw.
REQUESTEDRELIEF
WHEREFOREPlaintiffspraythishonorablecourtgrantthemthefollowingrelief:
A.MandamustoissueagainstDefendants,fortheirreleaseto PlaintiffofallrecordssoughtbyRequestNumberOne.
B.Statutorydamagesofnotlessthan$100.
C.Actualdamagestobedeterminedattrial.
D.PunitivedamagesagainstDefendantsVillageofLoneRockand TammyChristiansonfortheirarbitrarywithholdingofrecords
E Actualcostsoftheproceedingandactualattorneyfees
F.Suchotherreliefasthecourtdeemsappropriate.
SECONDCAUSEOFACTION
PlaintiffagainstAllDefendantsforDenialofRequestNumberTwo
24.Plaintiffincorporatesparagraphs2-5and8-15asthoughfullysetforth herein 25.Plaintiffhadaclearrighttosome(andoninformationandbeliefall) oftherecordssoughtbyRequestNumberTwo,supportedbysection19.35(1)(a)of thestatutes.TheDefendantshadaplainlegaldutytodisclosetherecords.
26.PlaintiffhasaninterestintherecordssoughtinRequestNumberTwo becausetheircontentsarelikelytoincludemattersofpublicinterestwhichPlaintiff wouldconsiderreportingaspartofthepress.Withverylimitedexceptionssuchas itsownemailexchangeswithDefendantChristianson,Plaintiffhasnotacquired thewithheldrecordsfromanyothersource.
27.Defendantsviolatedsection19,35(1)bynotprovidingresponsive recordssought.
28.Defendantsviolatedsection19,35(4)(a)bytakingmorethan66days (andcounting)toreleaseanyrecordThedelayhasbeenandcontinuestobe arbitrary.
29.Defendantsviolatedsection19.35(4)(a)bynotspecifyinganyreasons fordenyingaccesstotherecordssoughtbyRequestNumberTwo.Thefailureto provideanyreasonsfordenialrendersthedenialarbitraryandcapricious
30Defendantsviolatedsection1935(4)(b)bynotprovidinganynoticeof therighttoseekcompelledreleaseoftherecordssoughtbyRequestNumberTwo bymandamus. 31.Plaintiffrequiresmandamusreliefbecauseithasnoadequateremedy atlaw
REQUESTEDRELIEF
E.Actualcostsoftheproceedingandactualattorneyfees.
F.Suchotherreliefasthecourtdeemsappropriate.
Datedthis9thdayofJanuary,2023.
Respectfullysubmitted, SIDDIQUELAW,LLC
Electronicallysignedby: s/GaryEGrass
GaryEGrass, AttorneyforPlaintiff
GARYEGRASS No.1035738 6060N77thStreet Milwaukee,WI53218 (414)324-9639 g,grass@sbcglobal.net