MEGHAN CONLEY v. KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF, ET AL. - Articles

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MEGHAN CONLEY v. KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF, ET AL.

Posted by: Karen Belcher on Feb 1, 2022

Court: TN Court of Appeals

Attorneys 1: Amanda Lynn Morse and David M. Sanders, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the appellants, Knox County Sheriff and Knox County, Tennessee.

Attorneys 2: Andrew C. Fels and Dean Hill Rivkin, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the appellee, Meghan Conley.

Attorneys 3: Paul R. McAdoo, Brentwood, Tennessee, for the amici curiae, Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press and Thirteen Media Organizations in Support of Appellee.

Judge(s): ARMSTRONG

This is a Tennessee Public Records Act case. The trial court found that Appellant willfully denied two of Appellee’s twelve public records requests, but it awarded Appellee attorney’s fees and costs incurred throughout the entire litigation. We affirm the trial court’s findings that Appellant willfully denied two of Appellee’s public records requests. However, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding Appellee costs and fees incurred throughout the entire litigation. Accordingly, we vacate that portion of the trial court’s order and remand with instructions. The trial court’s order is otherwise affirmed, and Appellee’s request for appellate attorney’s fees and costs is denied.

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