Media Contact:
Paige McElwrath
Director of Communications, Citizen Action Defense Fund
[email protected] | (503) 863-4846
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2026
CITIZEN ACTION DEFENSE FUND SECURES WIN ON APPEAL IN PUBLIC RECORDS CASE ON BEHALF OF BRANDI KRUSE
Olympia, Washington — The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) has secured a significant victory on appeal in its public records lawsuit against the City of Seattle, brought on behalf of unDivided Media LLC and political commentator Brandi Kruse.
The appellate court’s ruling affirms that government agencies cannot evade their obligations under the Public Records Act (PRA), reinforcing the principle that transparency is not optional.
The case stems from the City of Seattle’s failure to properly comply with public records requests submitted by Brandi Kruse and unDivided Media. CADF won multiple motions at the trial court level, but surprisingly, the superior court judge ruled in favor of the City in cross-motions for summary judgment last year. CADF appealed after that lower court’s ruling, arguing that the City’s conduct undermined both the letter and spirit of Washington’s transparency laws.
The appellate court unanimously agreed, and the decision marks a major step forward in holding public agencies accountable.
“This ruling is a win not just for our clients, but for every Washingtonian who depends on government transparency,” said Jackson Maynard, Executive Director and Counsel for CADF. “The PRA exists to ensure accountability, and this decision makes clear that agencies cannot ignore their legal obligations without consequence.”
Political commentator Brandi Kruse, founder of unDivided Media, emphasized the broader impact of the case. “Public agencies have an obligation to respond to public record requests in a reasonable manner and timeframe, and to follow their own internal rules for doing so,” said Kruse. “When the government tries to withhold information or delay access, it erodes trust. I am hopeful that new leadership in Seattle is learning lessons from past mistakes in order to keep government transparent and accountable for all.”
CADF remains committed to defending the public’s right to know and will continue to pursue legal action when government entities fail to comply with transparency laws.