Jenner & Block Represents Roc Nation and Midwest Innocence Project in Lawsuit Against Kansas City PD for Failure to Disclose Records
News
November 19, 2024
Jenner & Block is representing Team ROC – Roc Nation’s social justice division – and the Midwest Innocence Project in a new lawsuit against the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas for failure to comply with the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) and disclose records relating to police misconduct.
In November 2023, Team Roc and MIP submitted a public records request to the KCKPD and the Unified Government, seeking documents that would shed light on widespread corruption and misconduct by the KCKPD, aid efforts to hold perpetrators accountable, and facilitate the necessary reforms to rebuild the public’s trust in law enforcement and the local criminal justice system.
Over the past year, the Unified Government and KCKPD have failed to provide pertinent documents related to the complaints about current and former KCKPD detectives and officers, the suspicious deaths of individuals while in KCKPD custody, and the investigations into the KCKPD’s misconduct by the FBI or KBI.
Under Kansas law, the Unified Government was required to respond to KORA requests within three business days. To date, the Unified Government and KCKPD have provided little more than field manuals, training materials, and other departmental policies.
The lawsuit asserts that, in addition to failing to provide the requested records, the Unified Government has “gouged [Roc Nation and MIP] on fees, presumably in an attempt to discourage them from pursuing the records at issue.”
The lawsuit also asserts that “various officials in Kansas City, Kansas, including the current Mayor and Chief of Police, have professed support for greater transparency and accountability,” but the Unified Government’s failure to comply with KORA undermines those assurances.
Partner Rachael Trummel led the team representing ROC and MIP.
Read NBC News' coverage of the lawsuit here.
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© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
News
November 19, 2024
Jenner & Block is representing Team ROC – Roc Nation’s social justice division – and the Midwest Innocence Project in a new lawsuit against the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas for failure to comply with the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) and disclose records relating to police misconduct.
In November 2023, Team Roc and MIP submitted a public records request to the KCKPD and the Unified Government, seeking documents that would shed light on widespread corruption and misconduct by the KCKPD, aid efforts to hold perpetrators accountable, and facilitate the necessary reforms to rebuild the public’s trust in law enforcement and the local criminal justice system.
Over the past year, the Unified Government and KCKPD have failed to provide pertinent documents related to the complaints about current and former KCKPD detectives and officers, the suspicious deaths of individuals while in KCKPD custody, and the investigations into the KCKPD’s misconduct by the FBI or KBI.
Under Kansas law, the Unified Government was required to respond to KORA requests within three business days. To date, the Unified Government and KCKPD have provided little more than field manuals, training materials, and other departmental policies.
The lawsuit asserts that, in addition to failing to provide the requested records, the Unified Government has “gouged [Roc Nation and MIP] on fees, presumably in an attempt to discourage them from pursuing the records at issue.”
The lawsuit also asserts that “various officials in Kansas City, Kansas, including the current Mayor and Chief of Police, have professed support for greater transparency and accountability,” but the Unified Government’s failure to comply with KORA undermines those assurances.
Partner Rachael Trummel led the team representing ROC and MIP.
Read NBC News' coverage of the lawsuit here.
Related Lawyers
Related Locations
© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
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