The First Amendment Coalition won a major freedom of information victory in California earlier this month when it used the Knight FOI Fund to file a successful’freedom of information lawsuit that revealed’the details of how a huge public pension fund lost $100 million.

The suit against CalPERS, the biggest public pension in the country, resulted in an order to release documents related to their investment in a high-risk real estate development ‘ which the fund tried to classify as ‘trade secrets.’

Not only was the investment a financial disaster, but the development also attracted negative attention when it allegedly displaced low-income tenants in rent-regulated apartments to increase rent levels.

The Knight FOI Fund supported the First Amendment Coalition in their pursuit of the documents in this case.’ The fund was made possible by a $2 million grant from the Knight Foundation, and is managed by the National Freedom of Information Coalition.

Because of freedom of information law,’said Kenneth F. Bunting, executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, “state pension administrators didn’t get away with hiding their dealings from citizens in the state of California.’