ILLINOIS MUNICIPALITY’S FOIA DENIAL OVERTURNED
The Illinois Appellate Court in the 4th District further refined its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) view in overturning a municipality’s FOIA denial. The City of Danville denied Defendant’s FOIA request for documents pertaining to City Housing Task Force, and Defendant sought administrative review with AG office. AG found that the City’s denial of the request was improper, as based upon private business reasons. The city was required to comply with FOIA request, as documents responsive to Defendant’s FOIA request concern a matter of public business, as they appear to concern business or community interests and not private affairs. Parties do not dispute that the City is a “public body”. The full opinion is accessible at this link:
http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2018/4thDistrict/4170182.pdf