Adams discusses police records reform with Investigative Post

Stephanie “Cole” Adams discussed her client’s case against the Buffalo Police Department, his need for access to police disciplinary records, and the larger landscape of 50a repeal with the Investigative Post’s Geoff Kelly in an article published September 1.

https://www.investigativepost.org/2020/09/01/police-transparency-hinges-on-legal-battle/

The LOSA is one of many law firms and interested parties to file to join the case, which the local Police Benevolent Association filed against Buffalo mayor Byron Brown and other officials to halt the release of disciplinary records under an update to NYS Freedom Of Information Law that would allow citizens much broader access to the records.

The LOSA and our client James Kistner note the city’s original response to this lawsuit was to ask the court for guidance on how to comply with what the police union wanted. Later, after various parties filed to intervene, the city filed an additional response to the suit.

As quoted in the article:

Stephanie Cole Adams, a Buffalo attorney who has sought to intervene in the case, called the city’s original acquiescence to the judge’s order and silence in response to the union’s argument’s “a serious lapse of statutory duty.”

“We had concerns the city wouldn’t fight [Sedita’s restraining order], but even my cynicism was shocked by the reply the city filed,” Adams told Investigative Post.

The motions to intervene are scheduled to be heard in court September 15.