Vermont Public Records: Notable Case Law
FOI Guide Home
Connecticut | Maine | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | Rhode Island | Vermont | Federal FOIA
The Stowe Reporter, LLC v. Town of Stowe (Vt. Sup. Ct. 2023) | The town of Stowe can not withhold information about a police officer who was terminated just because it sent that information to a statewide political body inclined to keep that type of information secret.
• Judge Sides with Stowe Reporter in Suit Over Police Records | Stowe Reporter
Human Rights Defense Center v. Correct Care Solutions, 263 A.3d 1260 (Vt. 2021) | In some cases, private entities performing certain government functions under contract with a political subdivision may be considered an “instrumentality” of that political subdivision, and thus be a public agency covered by the PRA.
Doyle v. Burlington Police Dep’t., 219 A.3d 326 (Vt. 2019) | Agencies are not permitted to charge for time spent complying with a request to inspect records rather than obtaining copies of them.
Toensing v. Attorney Gen. of Vt., 178 A.3d 1000 (Vt. 2017) | The PRA applies to records of agency business even if those records are on an official’s private device or account.
Finberg v. Murnane, 623 A.2d 979 (Vt.1992) | Determined that all exemptions must be narrowly construed and resolved in favor of disclosure when doubt exists.
Killington, Ltd. v. Lash, 572 A.2d 1368 (Vt. 1990) | Determined that the governor can claim executive privilege under the PRA but such privilege is qualified and not absolute.