Polk County Assessor Randy Ripperger
v.
Iowa Public Information Board
Petitioner appeals from a district court ruling affirming on judicial review a decision by respondent board that petitioner violated the Iowa Open Records Act by refusing a request to release a list of property owners who had submitted requests that the name-search function on petitioner’s website be disabled as to their properties. Petitioner contends the district court erred: (1) by failing to find respondent board members should have disqualified themselves from the contested case proceedings because they had engaged in ex parte communications about the case; (2) by failing to find the board had the burden to prove that the requested information is not confidential under Iowa Code section 22.7; (3) by failing to find that petitioner had no records which would have been responsive to the public records request made by the complainant; (4) by upholding the board’s determination that a list of citizens’ oral and written requests for confidentiality were not “communications” which petitioner might reasonably believe citizens would be discouraged from making if the lists were made public; and (5) by failing to find the safety concerns of citizens outweighs any public interest in releasing the information.
Appellant
Polk County Assessor Randy Ripperger
Appellee
Iowa Public Information Board
Attorneys for the Appellant
John P. Sarcone
Meghan L. Gavin
Attorney for the Appellee
Emily Willits
Supreme Court
Oral Argument Schedule
15-15-5
Nov 16, 2021 1:30 PM
