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Legal

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.
November 2, 2018
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.
March 1, 2018
Legal

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.
November 30, 2017
Legal

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.
September 13, 2017
Legal

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.
June 29, 2017
Legal

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.
May 18, 2017
Legal

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.
April 11, 2017
Legal

BGA To State Supreme Court: Make IHSA Records Public

Should the largest governing body for competitive high school sports in Illinois be required to comply with open records law? They don’t think so. We do.
March 21, 2017
Legal

BGA Vs. IHSA: Landmark Lawsuit Heads To State Supreme Court

Should the largest governing body for competitive high school sports in Illinois be required to comply with open records law? They don’t think so. We do.
March 14, 2017
Legal

BGA Questions Whether Emanuel Email Disclosures Were Complete, Seeks To Reopen Lawsuit

To settle an open records lawsuit brought by the BGA, the city in December released a trove of emails from the mayor’s personal accounts which involved public business. The watchdog group is asking a judge to take a fresh look at how forthcoming the city was.
March 13, 2017