PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A briefing schedule was set Tuesday in a federal lawsuit regarding surveillance devices inside Green Bay City Hall, but a trial date was not set. Meanwhile, settlement talks have taken place.
Ald. Chris Wery sued the city and Mayor Eric Genrich, alleging hidden microphones installed in City Hall violated state privacy laws and his Fourth Amendment rights.
The attorneys held a scheduling conference with the court Tuesday.
The plaintiffs need to disclose their expert witnesses by Jan. 8, with the city’s expert list due March 3. Motions to resolve or dismiss the case are due April 2. A trial date wouldn’t be set until after those motions are heard, Judge Byron Conway said.
The attorneys told the judge settlement talks are underway. Both sides said they would be open to mediation efforts.
Lori Lubinsky, the attorney for the city, said neither side has reviewed the actual contents of the recordings which were made, and those need to examined before mediation talks could begin.
Wery’s lawsuit alleges the microphones secretly captured private conversations involving council members, constituents, attorneys and reporters without their consent. The city’s response denies many of Wery’s allegations, saying the surveillance devices did not violate state or federal law. The city argues there was “no reasonable expectation of privacy” in City Hall hallways.
The lawsuit stems from debate that first surfaced publicly in 2023, when Green Bay officials confirmed microphones had been installed in portions of City Hall for security reasons. A previous lawsuit over the microphone system was settled in 2024.
While the city maintained it was a standard surveillance system installed for public safety, a judge ordered a halt to the use of the system and the Common Council voted to prohibit audio surveillance.
A special prosecutor ruled no charges will be filed against Genrich related to the recording devices.
Comments