Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Date unavailable
THE OLIVER FIRM, L.C., Plaintiff-Respondent v. SHERIFF CARL HEFNER, in his capacity as Sheriff of Stoddard County, Missouri, Defendant-Appellant, and AMY HOLDEN, in her capacity as Records Custodian for the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, Defendant
The Oliver Firm, L.C., representing the Pennington family, sued Sheriff Carl Hefner for violating Missouri's Sunshine Law by refusing to provide a bodycam video showing a deputy killing the family's dog. The trial court found the Sheriff knowingly violated the law and ordered him to pay a civil penalty, attorney fees, and costs. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, rejecting the Sheriff's arguments that the case was moot, that the court lacked authority to impose a penalty, and that the fees were unreasonable. The court also granted the Plaintiff's motion for attorney fees on appeal and remanded the case for their award.