Open government group helps bank FOI lawsuit

By: Associated Press//July 20, 2011//

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RACINE, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin newspaper is getting some financial help as it sues for records in the firing of a village administrator.

The National Freedom of Information Coalition said Wednesday it has awarded a $500 Knight FOI Fund grant to The Journal Times of Racine.

The Journal Times filed a lawsuit against the village of Mount Pleasant last month. The newspaper contends the village violated Wisconsin’s open government laws in the firing of former Administrator Mike Andreasen.

Andreasen was fired in May after a closed-door session. He died of a heart attack in June.

The Journal Times’ lawsuit alleges the village violated state open records law by denying the paper a copy of a letter and then failing to give adequate reasons for doing so. The village contends that its response to the paper’s request was adequate.

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