Al Franken for Senate v Ramsey County MGDPA Summons and Complaint.pdf

8/13/2019 Al Franken for Senate v Ramsey County MGDPA Summons and Complaint.pdf

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STATE OF MIN ESOTA

COUNT OF MSE

Al Fr ken r Senate

Pla nt

vs

R sey County Joseph M skyd Jo n Does d Jane Does

De ndants

DISTRICT COURT

SECOND J ICIAL DISTRICTCASE T PE: CIVIL OTHER

Case No

SUMMONS

THE STATE OF MIN ESOTA TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS:

ou are hereby summoned d requ red to ser e upon Pla nt f s atto ey an nswer to

the Compla nt wh ch s herew th ser ed upon you w th n twenty 20) days a er the serv ce of

th s Summons upon you exclus ve of the day of ser ce If you l to do so judgment by

de ult w ll be t en aga nst you r the rel ef demanded n the Compla nt

C v l cases are generally subject to alte at ve d spute processes pursuant to M nesota

law Alte at ve d spute resolut on ncludes med at on arb trat on and other processesas set

r h n the d str ct co t rules ou may contact the cour a m n strator about resources n your

area If you c ot pay r alte at ve d spute resolut on ass st nce may be ava lable to you n

some cases n some count es t rough a nonpro t prov der or a cour progr


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Dated: November 3, 2008

6 _l.D C

Dav d L. L llehaug #63Steven Z Kapl ( 537 )R chard D. Snyder # 9 292)C r stopher A Staf rd #38797 )F D SON B RON, P.A200 South S xth StreetM neapol s, M nesota 402Telephone: 612) 492 7000Facs m le: 6 2) 492 7077

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF


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STATE OF MI SOTA DISTRICT COURT

CO NT OF R MSE SECO D J DICIAL DISTRICTCASE TYPE: CIVIL OTHER

Al Fra ken r SenateCase No

Pla nt

vs

Ramsey County Joseph M skyand Jo n Does d J e Does

COMPLAINT

De nd ts

Pla nt Al Fra ken r Senate r ts Compla nt aga nst De nd ts Ramsey County

Joseph Mansky n h s o c al capac ty as Ramsey Co ty Elect on Manager and John Does d

Jane Does n the r o c al capac t es as the respons ble author t es r the collect on use and

d ssem nat on of data n R sey County states and alleges as llows:

INTRODUCTION

1. Pla nt Al Fra ken r Senate (the Campa gn" or Pla nt ) s the campa gn

org zat on t rough wh ch Al Fra ken cand date r n ted States Senate conducted h s

c d dacy r that o ce n the elect on held on November 4 2008

2 De nd t Ramsey County s a pol t cal subd v s on of the State of M nesota

Ramsey County a n sters elect ons pursu t to M esota Elect on Law M nn Stat. Ch 200-

2 l C 2008).

3 De nda t Joseph M sky ( Mansky'') s the Elect ons Manager r Ramsey

County and s the pr nc pal county o cer ch ged w th dut es relat ng to elect ons pon

n at on and bel ef Ma sky s the nd v dual respons ble r the collect on use d


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d ssem nat on of ny set of data related to the conduct of elect ons n Ramsey County pursuant to

M nesota Elect on Law, M n Sta Ch 200-21 l C (2008) d the M nesota Gove ent Data

Pract ces Act, M n Stat Ch 13 (2008) MGDPA")

4 De ndants Jo n Doe d J e Doe e n dent ed de nd nts who e or may

be des gnated by law or by Ramsey County as nd v dual respons ble r the collect on, use,

and d ssem nat on of y set of data related to the conduct of elect ons n Ramsey County

5 Th s act on presents the C pa gn s cla ms that t s now ent tled to nspect or

rece ve, on exped ted bas s, documentat on nd n rmat on that t requested om De ndants

n accordance w th the MGDP A

6 Venue n th s County s proper pursu t to M n Stat 13 08, Subd 3

ACKGROUND

Election and Recount

7 On November 4 2008, the State of M nnesota conducted an elect on r the of ce

of n ted States Senator

8 Inter m vote totals publ shed by the Secret ry of State s O ce show that the two

lead ng cand dates n that elect on, Al Fr en and Norm Colem n, e separated by 206 votes n

elect on contest n wh ch more th 2 9 m ll on votes were cast Consequently, the total vote

marg n bet een these two cand dates s less th one one-hun edths of one percent of the

almost 2 9 m ll on votes cast r that o ce

9. If, as here, the total votes sep at ng the c d dates e cert ed by the State

Canvass ng Bo d to be less tha one-half of one percent (0 5%) of the total of all votes cast r

the o ce of n ted States Senator, M nesota Elect on Law d rects the Secret y of State to

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oversee a mandatory manual recount of all votes cast in the State r that of ce Mi n Stat

204C 35, subd (b)( )

2008

10. The Secretary of State has scheduled that reco t to commence on November 19,

Reques r and Wrongful Denial of In rma ion under he MGDPA

11 On November 9, 2008, David Lillehaug ( Co sel"), in his capacity as co sel

r the C paign, sent a letter to Ma sky, care of Ramsey County Assist t Atto ey D win

Lookingbill ( Lookingbill"), requesting in rmation p rsu t to the MGDP A A copy of this

request is attached as Exhibi A.

12 the letter, Counsel requested that M sky produce the na es d addresses of

all persons who submitted absentee ballots in co nection with the general election of November

4, 2008, but whose absentee ballots were rejected or otherwise not counted " Counsel in rmed

Mansky that the request was urgent" d that the C mpai would pay reasonable costs r

collecting d copying the in ation

13 On November 11, 2008, Counsel provided R sey County, t rou Mr

Lookingbill, with a memorandum entitled Absentee Ballot Data Practices Request," which

rther iterated and explained the C paign's earlier request r in rmation related to absentee

ballots A copy of this memor dum is attached as Exhibi B.

14 The memor dum explains that pursuant to the MGDP A and Mi Stat

203B 12, subd 7, the identity of absentee ballot voters may be made available r public

inspection a er the close of voting on election day

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15. Also on November 11 2008 Coleman requested, p su t to the MGDPA, that

De nd ts prov de t w th the same n at on related to absentee ballots as requested by the

Campa gn. A copy of th s letter s attached as Exhibit C

16. On November 12 2008 Ramsey County a d M sky den ed the Campa gn's

requests, c t ng M n. Stat 203B.12 subd. 7 as purported just cat on.

17. The C pa gn has requested publ c n rmat on that has been collected and

ma nta ned by the De nd ts. The requested n rmat on has not been class ed so as to deny

the Campa gn access by a y statutory sect on, tempora y class cat on, or prov s on of deral

law, nclud ng M n. Stat. 203B. 12 subd. 7.

18. As of November 13 2008 the C pa has been den ed access to or cop es of

the requested n rmat on.

1 . De nda ts' den als of the Campa gn's requests have prevented the Campa

om develop ng a complete record upon wh ch to en rce ts r ghts under the ca vass, reco t,

and contest procedures prov ded n M nesota Elect on Law.

20. Pla nt nco orates the rego ng allegat ons nto each of the llow ng counts

as though lly set rth there n

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FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION

Injunction Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

Minn Stat 13 08 Subd

2 . De nd ts' e sal to p ov de the n es d add esses of absentee vote s whose

ballots we e ejected o othe se not counted v olates M n Stat 3 03, subd. 3(a , d, thu

De nd ts have w ong lly p evented Pla nt om ece v ng publ c data to wh ch t s ent tled

unde M nnesota law

22 Because De ndants have v olated d e cont nu ng to v olate the MGDPA, the

Cou t should enjo n them, unde M n Stat 3 08, subd 2, om us ng o employ ng

p act ces wh ch v olate the MGDPA

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION

Action to Compel Compliance Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

Minn Stat 13 08 Subd

23 De nd ts' e sal to p ov de the n es nd add esses of absentee vote s whose

ballots we e ejected o othe se not counted v olates M n. Stat. 3 03, subd 3(a d, thu

De ndants have w ong lly p evented Pla nt om ece v ng publ c data to wh ch t s ent tled

unde M nesota law.

24 Because De nd ts have v olated d e cont nu ng to v olate the MGDPA, the

Cou should ente o de to compel the compl ce de M nn. Stat 3 08, subd4

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THI CAUSE OF ACTION

Declaratory Relief Minnesota Declaratory Ju gment Act

Minn Stat 555

5. Pla nt s ent t ed, under M nn. Stat. 555.0 , the Dec atory Judgment

Act (DJA), to a jud c a decree of ts r ghts under the MGDPA. The DJA s app cable to th s

d spute d was enacted to enable the Pla nt to assert ts r ghts d remedy De nd ts'

wrongs, as prov ded by M n. Stat. 555. .

26. Pla nt s r ghts to obta n the requested data kept by De nd ts nder the

prov s ons of the MGDPA have been prejud ced by reason of De nd ts' re sa to supply the

requested data to Pla nt .

7 The part es d sagree about Pla nt 's r ghts to access the requested data under the

MGDPA

8. The Court shou d settle th s controversy d a ord re ef om uncerta nty and

nsecur ty w th respect to P a nt 's r ghts by gr t ng a jud c al decree stat ng that De nd ts

are requ red to gr t Pla nt ed ate access to the requested data.

FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION

Man amus Minn Stat 586 0 et seq

29 M nesota Statute 586 0 , pe ts the Cour to ssue a wr t of

m d us to compel a po t ca subd v s on, nclud ng county o c als, to take act on to avo d

rb trary and capr c ous results.

30 The Cour also has equ table author ty to ssue a mandatory nj ct on requ r ng

the De nd nts n th s case to take act on to comply w th the MGDPA.

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3 De n a ts have, in violation of law an arbitr ily capriciously, re se to

approve Plaintif s request r in rmation un er the MGDPA, a have other ise re se

access to or copies of the requeste in rmation

32 lainti is entitle to a writ of man amus an a man atory injunction

compelling De n ants to pro uce the requeste in rmation pursuant to the MGD A

WE FORE, Plainti respect lly requests the Cour enter ju gment in Plainti s

vor inclu ing, but not limite to:

or er etermining an eclaring that Plainti has a statutory right to

obtain or access all public ata requeste , accor ing to the provisions of

the MGDPA;

2 E oining De n ts om re sing to provi e all public ata Plainti has

a right to receive un er the MGDPA;

3 Compelling De n ts to isclose the requeste ata imme iately at a e

irly representing De n a ts' reasonable pro uction costs;

4 Or ering all other equitable legal relief to which Plainti may be

entitle

Date : November 3, 2008

7

Davi illehaug (#63 86)Steven Z Kapl (#53739)Rich D Sny er (# 9 292)C ristopher A Staf r (#38797 )FREDR SON BYRON, P A200 South Sixth StreetMi neapolis, Mi nesota 55402Telephone: (6 2) 492-7000Facsimile: (6 2) 492 7077

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF


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A OWLEDGMENT

Pl inti c owledges th t s ctions m y be imposed

6 .D C

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EXHIBIT A


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I

.I!

:j

1

l

F DRIKSON & BYRON, P.ASouth Sixth Street

Minneapolis MN

November

VIA LElections M age Joe Ma skyc/o Assist t County Atto ey Da win Loo ingbi lRamsey County Elections Of ce

West Plato Boulev dSt Paul,

Re: Urgen -- Data Practices Reques

Dear M . Mans y

P suant to t e Mi esota Go e ent Data actices Act we equest copies o thellowing

T e names nd addresses o a l pe sons w o submitted absentee ballots i connection wit t e general election of Novembe but whose absentee ballots we e rejectedor otherwise not counted

By way o examp e on y t is eques includes the names and address o persons w oseabsentee ballots we e e ected by eason of

* Signa es ot matching; o

* No egis ation on le

We re prepared to pay easonable costs r t e collecting and cop i g o t is data, as provided by t e ct

This is nurgen equest and is ti e-sensitive unde Minnesota's election lawsAccordingly we respect l y submit that the respo se hereto s ould be expedited leaseca l me at6 if you have y questions

Very t uly you s,

avid illehaug


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EXHIBIT B


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"; \.

MEMO

TO:

FROD

Co nty/Mu cipal E ection Of cia s d A o eys

David L lehaugtNovember 1, 2008

bsentee Ballot ata ractices eques

( f: & BYRON P A

We represent Fr ken r Senate. e appreciate the long hou s cou ty d m c p o cia s have been invest g i is isto ic election e ite conce g one impo t t issue that is very t e-sensitive

The F en camp gn has submitted to yo election t a M nesota Gove ent Data Prac ces Act (" DPA ) request r (a) e n mes a esses o ivi ua s who submi e

absentee bal ots r the November 4 genera e ection ( ) e n mes d add esses oi iv uals whose ab entee ba ots were rejecte ( d e reasons in each inst ce r e re ec on e te to remin you that as a ma ter o aw, s i ormation is pub ic ata must be pro uced

he MGDP A creates a presumption that n ess o e ise prov ded by aw a gove ent atare public See n Stat 3 3 subd 1is di cu t to mag e n rea in w ch the need

t sparency is g eater h i the a i is at on o o e ectora system Ideed, pub iccon dence d ust in o elections depend to a eat e ee upon pub ic p icipation i the p ocess nd public access to i o mation out the a mi is a ion o the e ectoral systemSeePurce v Gonzalez,549 U S 1 2006) ( Con ence in t e inte ity oour electoral process sis essent to the nctio g oour p icipator emocracy ); see lso e.g R8235 00 (requ r ng that e process o reco t ng ba ots be accessib e to the pub ic )

The MGDP A dea s speci ca ly with absentee voters by k to the e ection co e M Stat 13 07 subd pr vi es: "Disc os re o n mes o voters subm t ing absentee ba lots isgove ed by section 03B 2 subdivision "

Section 203 1 subd in t, states at he n mes o voters who have submit e absen ee bal ot re enve ope to the county au itor or m cipal c erk may not be ma eav lable r public i spectionuntil the close ofvot ng on elect on d y "(Emphasis added) ei entit o absentee ba ot voters is no pub c ata ti e c ose o vo g but becomes pub iim e iate y therea er he e is no other p ausib e rea ing oe exp icit te s o e sta ute he Fr en c paig has requeste s ata wou respect y submit that it must be produced i e iate y

h sconclusion is ent ely co sistent wi e rest o M nesota e ection aw, wh ch provides at e n e, ad ess, ye r o bi h, and voting histo o each registered voterthe co t i p o "pub ic in mation l st avai able inspectio See Mi Stat 2 09 subd 4


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EXHIBITC


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I1

TRIMBLE & ASSOCIATES, LTD.

1020 Wayzat Bou evardSui e 30Minneapo is, Minne o a553 5

November , 2008

Dear County Aud tor:

Attorneys at Law

Te e hone: 952-797 7477

Facsi e 952 797 585Ema: mble ega s@ear h i k.ne

As you are aw e we represent Coleman r Senate08 Th s co esponde ce is a request r access to public data relat ng the2008 general elect on n your count under the M nnesota Gove ent DataPractices Act ("MGDPA ), Mi nesota Statutes Chapter3 s ou ow nnesota Stat tes sect o

5 7,the Of c al Records Act rqu res all gove ment e t ties to make and mainta n all records that are ecessa y to a ll a d accurate owledge of their o c al acti it es Section3 03,subd v sion of theMGDPA requires gove ment entit es to keep records that co tain gove me t data n a wa (or wa sthat makes the data easil access ble r convenie t use

Because this n rmation relates to the election a upcoming statew de recount we request that thisi mat on be prov de mmediatel and on an exped ted basis. Please let us ow whether ou need

ass stance to exped te th s request

We hereb request the llowi g in mat on mmed ately relative to e2008general elect on

Total number ofrejected absentee ballots n our coun and e reasons r such re ect ons.

Total number ofaccepte absentee ballots in our count

All i rmat on you ha e providedto the Al Franken campa gn or ts counsel

or other representat ves relative to absentee ballot appl cat ons absentee ballots and/or absentee voters in your county

If possible, please provide this n rmation via email if you desire to [email protected] ! via acsimile to 9 - 9 Due to time sensitivities, if you cannot prov de this in rmationelectron ally email or fcsimile please conta t the nder ig ed at 9 9 4to arrange i k-up of the same.

Please make is i rmat on available to the undersig ed r cop ng mme iately Thank you

Si cerely

Tony P Tr mbleMat ew W Haapo a\m

cc . Dav d L L llehaug Esq (v a csimile ema l and U S mail)Mr Fr tz Knaak sq

Documents

Al Franken for Senate v Ramsey County MGDPA Summons and Complaint.pdf