State Supreme Court to decide what deadline means in records law

IONIA, Mich. (AP) -- The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to settle a dispute over the state's public records law. People who are denied records have 180 days to file a lawsuit if they want to challenge a decision. But when does the clock start running? Is it when a request for information is denied in writing or when that denial is postmarked? The case involves Nancy Prins, an Ionia County woman who asked the state police for video from a traffic stop. She eventually sued but a judge ruled against her, saying she missed the 180-day deadline by four days in 2009. The state appeals court reversed that decision, saying the postmark is most important. The Supreme Court said last Thursday it will take the case. Published: Mon, Jul 4, 2011