TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Aug 1, 2025

A University of Memphis law student has filed a lawsuit in Shelby County Chancery Court, alleging the city of Memphis violated the state Public Records Act by restricting access to police disciplinary documents. Tyler Foster claims the city imposed inflated fees, inconsistent policies and a “sustained pattern of noncompliance” in responding to his public records requests, including failure to provide clear explanations of fees and denial of legally mandated documents, the Memphis Flyer reports. Foster, who has submitted requests through the city’s online Public Records Center since June 2024, says his requests for police disciplinary records were marked “fulfilled and closed” without delivery of any documents. The suit contends the city’s actions hinder transparency and accountability amid longstanding concerns about police misconduct. In May, the American Civil Liberties Union and Stand for Children Tennessee submitted a public records request to the Memphis Police Department for information about “misconduct and civil rights violations.”