ACLU and News Outlets File Lawsuit Against Metro Police Over Alleged Public Records Overcharging

LAS VEGAS, NV — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nevada, joined by news organizations The Nevada Independent and The Marshall Project, has filed a lawsuit against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) alleging systematic violations of state public records laws.

The legal challenge, filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court, targets Metro’s fee structure for processing public information requests.

High Fees as Barriers to Transparency

The complaint contends that LVMPD routinely charges “excessive and improper fees” that violate the Nevada Public Records Act.

Plaintiffs allege that Metro calculates fulfillment costs by incorporating high personnel salaries—a practice plaintiffs argue inflates fees and effectively blocks journalists, legal advocates, and citizens from obtaining public body documents.

+--------------------------------------------------------+
|          ACLU v. LVMPD LITIGATION DOSSIER               |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
|  - Court Jurisdiction: Eighth Judicial District Court  |
|  - Lead Plaintiff: ACLU of Nevada                      |
|  - Co-Plaintiffs: The Nevada Independent, The Marshall |
|                   Project, Edgar Flores Law            |
|  - Target Entity: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept   |
|  - Statutory Focus: Nevada Public Records Act          |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Push for Statutory Compliance

Attorneys involved in the action argue that government transparency relies on affordable access to public safety records, body-camera footage, and administrative data.

The lawsuit seeks a judicial declaration forcing Metro to recalculate fee structures strictly in compliance with Nevada statutory guidelines.

Source: Clark County District Court Filings, The Nevada Independent Legal Registries.