East Lansing is handing over a slew of text messages, computer files and other records after settling a lawsuit over a public records request.
Attorney Mike Nichols sued last year when the city refused to turn over most of the records he had requested using the Freedom of Information Act.
But, after City Council approved a settlement this week, the city will turn over some of those records, which mostly relate to the police department. That includes photos, browser histories and messages from the personal and city-issued cell phones and computers of one current and two former City Council members.
Nichols asked for the records when he was representing a city police officer who later cleared of an excessive force complaint. He says he plans to review the material before deciding on any further action against the city. “The big problem with the denial was that democracy dies in the dark. We didn't want to let the city get away with their answer,” he says.
Officials said Nichols’ original request was too broad and that it would create an unwarranted invasion of privacy. They also denied that some of the requested records, like text messages on council members’ cell phones, were in the city’s possession.