In the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fifth District, plaintiff Jamal Shehadeh filed a case against the City of Taylorville. The lawsuit revolves around a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) complaint where Shehadeh requested a copy of his own letter to the mayor of Taylorville. The court case ID is 22-MR-32 and it was presided over by Judge Douglas C. Gruenke.
Shehadeh, while incarcerated in Christian County jail, sent a letter to the mayor on March 4, 2022, complaining about city attorney Rocci L. Romano and other matters. The city's FOIA officer denied Shehadeh's request for a copy of his letter on April 6, 2022, citing that it was an "improper and illegal attempted communication" with representatives who were represented by counsel in pending litigation with Shehadeh.
On April 26, 2022, Shehadeh filed a pro se motion for leave to file a complaint under FOIA arguing that when his letter was received by the mayor, it became public record as defined by FOIA. He further argued that the City had no legal basis for denying his request for a copy of the letter.
The plaintiff seeks judgment declaring that the City's refusal to produce a copy of the letter was unlawful, intentional, willful, and in bad faith. He also seeks an order directing the City to produce a copy of the letter along with costs and civil penalties.