DETROIT — Documents related to a whistle-blower lawsuit that led to a text-messaging sex scandal involving the mayor must be released to the public, a judge ruled Tuesday. The city said it would appeal the ruling by Friday, the deadline set by Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert Colombo Jr.
The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are suing the city to determine whether there was a secret settlement in the whistle-blower lawsuit, in which a jury ruled against the city. The case eventually cost the city more than $8.5 million.
The whistle-blower lawsuit was filed by two police officers who alleged they were fired for investigating claims that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick used his security unit to cover up extramarital affairs.
After a jury awarded damages to the officers in September, Kilpatrick promised to appeal but never did. A month later, the city made the multimillion-dollar payout.
