Willa Hynes Missouri Cases

Willa Hynes's son died in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC), and she requested records under the Missouri Sunshine Law. The trial court granted summary judgment to Hynes, finding the DOC violated the Sunshine Law, and after a bench trial, found the violation was knowing and purposeful, ordering the DOC to produce records, pay a $5,000 penalty, and attorney's fees. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's finding that the DOC violated the Sunshine Law and that the violation was purposeful, but reversed the portion of the judgment allowing the DOC to seek a protective order before producing the records.

Willa Hynes appealed a partial summary judgment granted in her favor against the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) regarding a Sunshine Law violation, while the DOC cross-appealed. The trial court had found the DOC violated the Sunshine Law but left unresolved whether the violation was knowing or purposeful, and issues of civil penalties and attorney fees. The appellate court dismissed both appeals for lack of jurisdiction, holding that the partial summary judgment did not fully adjudicate a distinct judicial unit and was therefore not a final, appealable judgment under Rule 74.01(b).