City of Savannah facing lawsuit over public records requests
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The City of Savannah is being sued for alleged failure to comply with open records requests related to public safety concerns at Housing Authority of Savannah properties.
The complaint from the Mance law firm obtained by WSAV lists Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, the city's alderman, and the city attorney as defendants in the case.
The complaint cites the defendants for, 'failure to timely provide public records in response to a lawful open records request.'
'The idea is, as the name suggests, that the public should have a preview into the dark places of government and should be able to get documents and information about the goings on of government relatively freely and without any obstructions,' Chad Mance, Owner of the Mance law firm, said.
The Georgia Open Records Act is used by journalists, attorneys, and members of the general public to obtain records from public agencies.
However, in this case, Mance said the City of Savannah has not been complying.
'We asked repeatedly for certain records over a number of years, and we believe there were a number of obstructions that were introduced in the process that should have never been present, and we have reason to believe that that may have been done to others as well,' Mance said.
According to the complaint, the alleged obstructions include failure to provide timely access to public records, wrongful withholding of public records, and frustrating access to records.
'We sent a number of letters related to criminal activity, crime, and governmental findings in connection with that over years and years and years. Instead of getting met with complete productions or descriptions that were adequate of documents that existed or did not exist within a reasonable amount of time, we either were made to wait or had partial productions most of the time,' Mance said.
Details of records requested by the Mance firm go back 5 years. They include incident reports, crime data, surveillance footage, and documentation of crime data and police activity around certain Housing Authority properties.
'There's a delicate balance between volume and expediency of disclosure to the public. What we want, is we want accountability and transparency,' Mance said.
WSAV reached out to the City of Savannah for comment on this lawsuit and a spokesperson said, 'The city does not comment on active or pending litigation.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Georgia state officials warn demonstrators ahead planned protests
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Georgia Attorney General issued a stern warning to anyone planning to protest this weekend on Wednesday. 'It's very simple,' Attorney General Chris Carr said in part. 'Protesters use words. Rioters use violence. There is no gray area.' Carr said that the statement was 'a warning to rioters.' There are at least 20 demonstrations planned as part of 'No Kings' events around the Peach State on Saturday. 'In Georgia, if you engage in violence for the purpose of changing public policy, you can be charged with Domestic Terrorism,' he said. 'The penalty for Domestic Terrorism is 5-35 years in jail.' Governor Brian Kemp also released a statement on X. 'My office remains in close contact with state and local law enforcement and stands ready to take whatever appropriate action is needed to safeguard our communities from crime and violence while also respecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly,' Kemp said. 'My support for public safety officers and the rule of law is unwavering, and any violence against those who protect and serve will be met with quick and heavy accountability.' Carr also said that the bottom line is that they will defend the right to peacefully protest, but the state will bring charges against 'those who earn it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sapelo Island gangway collapse lawsuit filed
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Emotions were high Wednesday during a press conference where victims relived the Sapelo Island gangway collapse that happened last October. Legal counsel announced that there will be a lawsuit and that they plan to hold everyone they deem liable accountable. 'I'm still having nightmares when I go to sleep, when I'm on the edge of the bed, it feels like I'm on a cliff or something,' George J. Francis said. Justice and advocacy were two words emphasized during Wednesday's press conference regarding the Sapelo Island gangway collapse. It happened on what was supposed to be a joyous celebration of Gullah Geechee culture. Seven people died in the accident, and many more were injured. 'It was a day that started out of excitement because I've never been to Sapelo,' victim Janice Carroll said. 'I was going to experience something new to a place that I had never been before. I was excited. Coming back and going back towards the ramp was, you know, oh, I had a great time. But once the incident happened, it was just like my whole point of view just changed.' More than 20 plaintiffs and six defendants are listed in the 100-page civil said that the defendants failed to ensure that the 80-foot gangways design was inspected, verified and approved by engineering professionals to confirm it could safely hold a certain number of people. They said it was dangerously under-designed and poorly constructed. Attorney Chad Mance represents the victims and said the tragedy could've been prevented. 'It kind of forced me to deal with the looming ghosts of the past here in Coastal Georgia,' Mance said. 'And one of those is the inequitable distribution of resources to indigenous peoples here. And that really is the huge elephant in the room in this case, and had resources been equitably doled out, we would have never had this kind of tragedy.' Victims are asking for compensation for their injuries and losses. Carroll and Francis said they couldn't believe what they were witnessing; they said no amount of money will ever be able to take away that memory. 'The only thing I could see was the thing going down, and I said, 'Oh my god', you know, and then you find yourself up in that water pulling yourself up out of the water,' Carroll said. Francis said, 'I remember when it hit the water, I could see the people on the Meridian side from the ferry throwing out lifejackets, with the lifejackets the current was carrying them so no one could really grab them.' This lawsuit could end up in a jury trial if no settlements are reached. It could take up to two years before victims see some type of resolution or justice. WSAV will update the story as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 arrested on several drug charges in Glynn County
GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — Three people were arrested on several drug charges following a traffic stop in Glynn County Wednesday. Around 2:15 a.m., Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) officers stopped a car in the 5400 block of New Jesup Highway for a reported traffic violation. Officers found a loaded Glock handgun and several types of drugs, a spokesperson said. Officers reportedly seized marijuana, fentanyl, methamphetamine, gabapentin, tramadol and oxycodone tablets during the stop. Police arrested 28-year-old Tamieka Nicole Andsley, 24-year-old Leroy Johnson and 37-year-old Anturiuos Kendell Johnson-Jones. All three are charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, trafficking in schedule II-controlled substance, two counts of possession of schedule II-controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of schedule IV-controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possession of dangerous drug. Johnson is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a certain crimes. This investigation is ongoing and any person with information on this case is asked to contact the Glynn County Police Department Non-Emergency at (912) 554-3645 or anonymously via Silent Witness at (912) 264-1333. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.