Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources and Board of Trustees for the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund. Missouri Cases

The City of Harrisonville appealed a circuit court's judgment that overruled its motion for summary judgment and sustained the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund's motion for summary judgment in a Sunshine Law dispute. The circuit court found certain records were closeable under statutory exceptions. The Missouri Supreme Court dismissed the City's appeal, holding that its brief violated multiple provisions of Rule 84.04, which substantially impeded appellate review and preserved no issues for consideration. The Court also noted that even if reviewed, the judgment would be affirmed because the City failed to appeal all independent bases for the summary judgment.

The City of Harrisonville appealed the circuit court's grant of summary judgment to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund Board. The City alleged violations of the Missouri Sunshine Law for withholding a letter concerning a former executive director's conduct. The appellate court affirmed, finding the letter was a closed record under Section 610.021(3) as it related to employee performance and discipline. The court also found no genuine issue of material fact and no knowing or purposeful Sunshine Law violations by the Respondents.