Schools and Education Manatee School Board Resolves Litigation with Controversial Public Records Group

BRADENTON – An agreement to resolve claims in pending litigation that was written as a result of a public records request made by a controversial south Florida activism group was approved by the Manatee School Board at its Tuesday meeting. The group that initially filed claims against the board has agreed to cease pursuing litigation.

The group, Our Public Records LLC, is the sister group to the Citizens Awareness Foundation, who have filed more than 140 public records lawsuits in 27 counties since January of last year, according to the Miami Herald.

In October, the town commission of Gulf Stream, in Palm Beach County, voted unanimously to hire an outside lawyer to pursue a federal racketeering case against one of the attorneys that has been heavily involved with the firm..

The activities of the two groups have focused on targeting private and public entities in Florida with lawsuits demanding settlements, which have in turn inspired a federal racketeering case against an attorney involved with the group.

In a statement, district attorney Mitch Teitelbaum said: "The Disitrict resolved a public records sunshine lawsuit with no payment by the School Board to the party who brought the legal action pending in the Twelfth Judicial Court Circuit.