Copley Press, Inc. v. City of Springfield

On May 24, 1985, plaintiff, the Copley Press, Inc., filed suit in the circuit court of Sangamon County alleging that defendant, city of Springfield, had refused to permit Bob Mahlburg, a reporter for the State Journal Register which plaintiff publishes, access to public records to which plaintiff was entitled pursuant to the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (Ill. Rev. Stat., 1984 Supp., ch. 116, par. 201 et seq.). Plaintiff sought (1) declaratory relief as to its rights in the matter; (2) injunctive relief prohibiting defendant from interfering with its access to the records and…