Peer News LLC v. City & County of Honolulu

Online publication Civil Beat challenged the City Department of Budget & Fiscal Service’s denial of access to formal inter-agency memoranda that are part of the City’s budget process.  The case questions whether Hawai`i law permits agencies to withhold all record of government deliberations under a “deliberative process privilege.”  On February 5, 2016, Judge Virginia Crandall entered judgment upholding the City’s use of the deliberative process privilege.  Civil No. 15-1-0891-05 VLC.  Civil Beat sought to have its appeal heard by the Hawai`i Supreme Court, which accepted the case on October 12, 2016.  The Supreme Court heard oral argument on June 1, 2017.  Supreme Court No. SCAP-16-114, ICA No. CAAP-16-114.  On December 21, 2018, the Hawai`i Supreme Court held that the deliberative process privilege is not a basis for withholding records under the Hawai`i public records law.

• Complaint (5/8/15)
• Answer (6/1/15)
• Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment
  • Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law (6/5/15)
  • Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition (7/20/15)
  • State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (7/24/15)
  • Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum (7/23/15)
  • Order Denying Summary Judgment (9/21/15)
• Plaintiff’s Motion to Expedite Proceeding
  • Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law (8/18/15)
  • Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition (8/27/15)
  • State of Hawaii’s Memorandum in Opposition (8/27/15)
  • Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum (9/1/15)
  • Order Granting in Part Motion to Expedite Proceeding (10/6/15)
• Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment
  • Defendants’ Motion & Memorandum of Law (Count I) (10/19/15)
  • Defendants’ Motion & Memorandum of Law (Count II) (10/19/15)
  • State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (10/19/15)
  • Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion & Memorandum (Count I) (11/13/15)
  • Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion & Memorandum (Count II) (11/13/15)
  • Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion (Count I) (11/25/15)
  • Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion (Count II) (11/25/15)
  • Plaintiff’s Combined Reply Memorandum (Count I & II) (11/30/15)
  • Defendants’ Reply Memorandum (Count I) (11/30/15)
  • Defendants’ Reply Memorandum (Count II) (11/30/15)
  • Orders Granting Defendants’ Motions/Denying Plaintiffs’ Motions (1/13/16)
• Final Judgment (2/5/16)
• Notice of Appeal (2/29/16)
  • Record on Appeal (Part I)
  • Record on Appeal (Part II)
  • OIP Notice of Intention Not to File Answering Brief (4/21/16)
  • Civil Beat’s Opening Brief (5/2/16)
  • State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (6/13/16)
  • City’s Answering Brief (7/27/16)
  • Civil Beat’s Reply Brief (8/22/16)
• Application for Transfer (9/9/16)
  • Order Granting Application for Transfer (10/12/16)
• Oral Argument (audio) (6/1/17)
• Opinion (12/21/18)
  • Dissenting Opinion (12/21/18)
• Request for Attorney’s Fees & Costs on Appeal (1/7/19)
  • Memorandum in Support (1/7/19)
  • City’s Opposition to Request for Fees (1/17/19)
  • Reply Memorandum in Support (1/22/19)
  • Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Request for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (2/26/19)
• Judgment on Appeal (3/13/19)