Threat of Eminent Domain Sparks Open Records Lawsuits.

In Tennessee, the Jefferson County Economic Development Oversight Committee​, a group of elected officials, recommended spending tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer money to begin development on an industrial megasite.

Word  spread that the Jefferson County Economic Development Oversight Committee was talking about using eminent domain to acquire land for the industrial megasite.

Open Records requests followed. A Tennessee appeals court ruled this week that open records laws applied because the Jefferson County Economic Development Oversight Committee​:

•  “performs a governmental function”
• “receives a substantial taxpayer funding”
• “is significantly involved and regulated by the Jefferson County Commission and Jefferson City and Dandridge city legislative bodies”

Cautionary Tale: Talk of eminent domain led to other legal issues.

Citizen Tribune | Appeals Court: Jefferson group subject to open record laws