Evidence

Listen to this article

WI Court of Appeals – District I

Case Name: Robert Cronwell v. City of Glendale

Case No.: 2022AP001308

Officials: White, C.J., Donald, P.J., and Colón, J.

Focus: Evidence

The City of Glendale appeals from an order of the circuit court granting summary judgment in favor of Robert Cronwell and ordering the City to produce an unredacted version of the application to sell alcohol beverages submitted by PrimeTime Events, LLC. On appeal, the City argues that the circuit court erroneously applied the balancing test to grant Cronwell access under the open records law to personal information of PrimeTime’s managing member that the City redacted from the application.

As a result of the nature of this case, the appeals court considers the public’s oversight of this governmental function in reviewing and issuing a license to sell alcohol beverages crucial and, in turn, it considers the public to have a unique interest in knowing the details of the applicants for a license to sell alcohol beverages that would allow the public to ensure that the application meets the requirements of WIS. STAT. § 125.04. It would, therefore, take more than the mere possibility of identity theft and the mere possibility of a chilling effect to outweigh the public’s interest in knowing the details of the applications to sell alcohol beverages submitted to the government.

Affirmed.

Decided 03/05/24

Full Text