Iowa Freedom of Information Council Wins Motion to Unseal Police Body Camera Footage of Fatal 2015 Shooting

A federal judge ordered the release of the complete body camera recording of a 2015 incident in which a Burlington, Iowa police officer accidentally shot and killed a 34-year-old woman. The judge granted an access motion to unseal the video — along with other summary judgment papers filed under seal — brought by firm client the Iowa Freedom of Information Council (FOI). Our firm drafted the motion papers and briefing for the FOI, and presented oral argument in the case. The officer was cleared of any crime for the incident, but the City of Burlington later paid the family $2 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit.