Program Chair & Presenter
Peter J. Block
Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office
Milwaukee
Presenters
Pari Apostolakos
NBC 26 WGBA
Green Bay
Scott F. Brown
Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel
Milwaukee
Paul M. Ferguson
Wisconsin Attorney General's Office
Madison
Tom Kamenick
Wisconsin Transparency Project
Port Washington
Ashley Luthern
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee
Jim Malewitz
Wisconsin Watch
Madison
Tamara B. Packard
Pines Bach LLP
Madison
Benjamin J. Roovers
Madison Metropolitan School District
Madison
Benjamin A. Sparks
American Oversight
Milwaukee
8:30 AM Case law Updates
Peter Block, Paul Ferguson
9:10 AM Closed Session/Open Meetings
- Standards and procedures for properly convening a closed session, including notice, motion, and permissible purposes
Tom Kamenick
10:00 AM Break
10:15 AM Personnel Records
- How personnel records intersect with public records requests
- FOIA
- What rights do employees have under Wis. Stat. §§ 103.13 and 111.70?
- What information must be disclosed—and what can be withheld?
- Common issues and compliance challenges for employers
- When legal counsel gets involved
Tamara B. Packard, Benjamin J. Roovers, Benjamin A. Sparks
11:15 AM The Public Records Law’s Role in Journalism
- Why the public records law is used
- What are common issues?
- What happens when records are received
- Fact checking & journalist standards
- In what instances is legal counsel consulted?
Moderator: Scott F. Brown
Panelists: Pari Apostolakos, Ashley Luthern, Jim Malewitz
12:10 PM Program Concludes
- Learn how to help clients avoid common procedural missteps in closed meetings
- Understand what personnel records must be shared and what can be protected from disclosure
- Break down the overlap between FOIA and state law requirements for handling employment information
- Recognize when counsel should get involved in the records request process
- Gain practical context for how journalists use public records laws
- Unpack the year’s most impactful public records and open meetings decisions
- Government lawyers
- Administrative lawyers
- Employment lawyers
- Media lawyers
- Civil rights and constitutional lawyers
- Business lawyers
- General practitioners
Book Bonus!
The Wisconsin Public Records and Open Meetings Handbook
Save 15% on The Wisconsin Public Records and Open Meetings Handbook.* Whether you represent a governmental entity, the media, or a private citizen, the Handbook offers practical guidance on public records law applications and the requirements for open meetings in Wisconsin. Use discount code CA3800 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.
*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/26. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.