American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri Foundation v. Missouri Department of Corrections

The Missouri Department of Corrections (“Department”) appeals the judgment of the Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri (“trial court”), in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri (“ACLU”) which imposed a $500 penalty against the Department and awarded attorney’s fees and costs of $5,145 to the ACLU, pursuant to section 610.027 1 and, specifically, due to the trial court’s conclusion that the Department knowingly violated the Missouri Sunshine Law. On appeal, the Department argues that: (1) the trial court erroneously applied a strict liability standard in the imposition of…