University of Michigan FOIA lawsuit plaintiff Paige Shriver filed suit Wednesday, alleging the public university is withholding records tied to an outside Jenner & Block investigation into the Sherrone Moore matter. Shriver says the university refused to produce documents she seeks under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, and her legal team asks a court to compel disclosure.
University of Michigan FOIA lawsuit: What the lawsuit says
The complaint accuses the University of Michigan of improperly withholding public records related to the Jenner & Block investigation that the filing says examined allegations connected to the football program and personnel. Plaintiff’s counsel, Andrew M. Stroth, said the suit seeks to force the university and officials to provide documents that the complaint describes as public under Michigan law.
Shriver’s filing asks the court to order production of investigative reports, communications between university officials and outside counsel, billing records, and any documents describing the scope and terms of the Jenner & Block engagement. The complaint frames the demand as necessary to understand how a public university used taxpayer-funded resources in response to serious allegations.
Plaintiff’s counsel also alleges the university paid Jenner & Block approximately $12 million for the investigation. That $12 million figure is presented in the complaint as an allegation by plaintiff’s counsel and has not been independently verified in public records cited in the initial reporting.
University of Michigan FOIA lawsuit: records sought
The suit lists specific categories of material Shriver says are public: the Jenner & Block investigative report, communications between university officials and outside counsel, billing and payment records for the engagement, and documents describing the engagement’s scope and limitations. The complaint argues those items bear on the use of public funds and institutional accountability.
According to the filing, the requested records are essential to understanding how the university handled allegations linked to the football program and to whether public resources were spent appropriately. The complaint contends that shielding such records frustrates public oversight at a taxpayer-funded university.
Timeline: key events so far
Michigan fired coach Sherrone Moore in December 2025 after an internal inquiry described “a situation that transpired within and outside the football building,” the university said at the time. Moore was later arrested on assault-related charges and, according to reporting, avoided jail time and was sentenced to probation in April 2026.
In the months after Moore’s firing, the university engaged Jenner & Block for an outside review, according to Shriver’s complaint. Paige Shriver and her legal team filed the FOIA lawsuit Wednesday, marking the latest move in an ongoing dispute over what records the public may obtain.
University response and outreach
OutKick and Fox News/OutKick contacted the University of Michigan public affairs office and the athletic department seeking comment. According to that reporting, university representatives did not respond to those requests.
The complaint cites the lack of a substantive response to prior FOIA demands as part of the factual basis for Shriver’s claim that the university declined to disclose records after the requests were made.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on transparency at a public university and how taxpayer-funded institutions handle investigations that implicate misconduct, personnel and campus safety. If records about outside investigations and related payments are withheld, public oversight of spending and institutional decision-making is limited.
Shriver’s filing frames the question as whether a public university can keep secret the results of an investigation paid for with public funds and whether students, alumni and taxpayers have a right to review findings that could affect campus safety and governance. University buildings involved in the matter, including Schembechler Hall, are central to the complaint’s framing. University of Michigan campus graphic near Schembechler Hall
What comes next
Following the complaint, the university will have an opportunity to respond in court and to justify any withheld records under FOIA exemptions or other legal theories. The case will proceed through the Michigan courts unless the parties reach a negotiated resolution first.
The filing names President Grasso and the Board of Regents in its request for remedies; the litigation could prompt further public-records requests, discovery, motions and possible court orders compelling disclosure. The timing for any production of documents will depend on court scheduling and whether the university defends its withholdings aggressively.
Background and context
The Jenner & Block review was commissioned after allegations emerged about conduct inside the football program. The university has issued limited public statements about prior steps taken, and detailed findings from that review have not been released publicly, according to the complaint.
The complaint acknowledges legal tensions between disclosure and confidentiality tied to privacy, personnel matters and potential claims under Title IX or other statutes; it argues courts and the public should balance those interests against the public’s right to know how public funds are spent.
Sources and attribution
This report is based on the complaint filed by Paige Shriver’s legal team and reporting by Fox News/OutKick, which first published details of the suit and the allegations referenced here.
Frequently asked questions
What records does the lawsuit seek?
The complaint seeks the Jenner & Block investigative report, communications between university officials and outside counsel, billing or payment records related to the engagement, and documents describing the investigation’s scope. The filing frames those as public records under the Michigan FOIA.
Is the $12 million payment independently confirmed?
The $12 million figure is presented in the lawsuit as an allegation by plaintiff’s counsel. That amount has not been independently verified in public records cited in the initial reporting and is identified in the complaint as counsel’s assertion.
What are possible next steps after a FOIA lawsuit?
Next steps typically include a university response, possible motions to dismiss or for summary disposition, discovery, and potential court orders compelling disclosure. Parties sometimes negotiate to release some records before a court rules.
