Krause’s ruling was unequivocal: the DA’s refusal to comply was “intentional, not done in good faith, and was substantially groundless and vexatious.” She further noted that Willis’ office displayed “open hostility” toward Merchant, treating her requests differently from others by refusing standard phone communication.
Court Orders Immediate Compliance
As a result of these violations, Krause mandated that Willis’ office pay attorney fees and litigation costs to Merchant’s firm, covering 78.7 hours of work by Ashleigh Merchant, 89.1 hours by her husband and fellow attorney John Merchant, and 65.4 hours of paralegal time. Additional expenses such as filing and service fees were also included.
Furthermore, the judge ordered that the withheld documents be handed over within 30 days, asserting that they are public records and not exempt from disclosure. To ensure full compliance, Willis’ office must conduct comprehensive searches of all employee emails and office files and provide a detailed explanation of efforts made to locate the requested materials.
