Taxpayers own Navy Pier, made a big investment in getting Navy Pier Inc. started—and have a compelling interest in knowing how it’s being run.
Legal
Posted inLegal
BGA Scores Victory in Navy Pier Case
State appellate court rules that Navy Pier documents are subject to open records laws even though nonprofit that runs the pier is not a public body.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal
BGA Sues Town of Lyons for Records in Federal Probe
The Better Government Association joins WBEZ in suing the southwest suburb for records it received as part of growing federal investigation.
Posted inLegal
Judge Rules Navy Pier Nonprofit Not A Government Entity
Decision in a BGA lawsuit means the private body spun off from the McCormick Place governing board won’t be deemed a public agency, but its records will still be subject to Freedom of Information requests for payroll, leases and other government functions.
Posted inInvestigation, Legal
BGA Wins Transparency Ruling in Navy Pier Privatization Case
The decision could make it hard for private entities that have assumed government duties to block public access to their records.
Posted inLegal
State Supreme Court Lets Stand Pro-Transparency Ruling
The Illinois Supreme Court has let stand a lower court ruling favoring the BGA, barring Illinois cities from imposing their own exemptions to state open records law.
Posted inLegal
BGA Sues CPS For Refusal To Turn Over Records Related To Autistic Teen’s Drowning
The Better Government Association has sued the Chicago Public School district to obtain records that could shed light on the death of an autistic high school student who drowned in a swimming pool during gym class.
Posted inLegal
Ruling In BGA Suit Bars Towns From Writing Own Transparency Rules
The Illinois Appellate Court, in a case involving a Rosemont deal with country singer Garth Brooks, says municipalities can’t legislate the power to pick and choose what parts of state open records law they want to follow.
Posted inLegal
In Open-Records Case, The State Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of IHSA, Against BGA
The BGA sought to require the organization that oversees high school sports in Illinois to comply with open records law. The justices rejected our arguments. But the court does note similar suits should require a case-by-case consideration.
Posted inLegal
BGA Sues Emanuel’s Staff Over School Lead Disclosures
The mayor’s office and public health officials refused to fully comply with an open-records request, newly filed suit claims. Officials withheld information related to lead contamination in Chicago schools.