Dismissed: Sheriff Schmidt's Libel Case against Brylski Ends

The case has been dismissed in the Schmidt vs. Brylski libel lawsuit.Photo byMy Price County

A jury trial was scheduled for November 4th through the 7th, 2024 in the Price County Courthouse for the intentional tort (libel) case Sheriff Brian Schmidt filed against John Brylski on October 6, 2022, one month before the election. Sheriff Schmidt was on the ballot in that election, running for Price County Sheriff, and John Brylski was a write-in candidate for the same position.

According to CCAP, many exhibits were submitted, subpoenas were granted, and many motions were filed in the proceeding.

On June 25, 2024, the court ordered depositions for both Brian Schmidt and John Brylski, which were to occur on July 25, 2024. It does not appear those depositions took place.

In addition, in a separate court proceeding, on July 17, 2024, John Brylski filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus against the Price County Sheriff's Office and Brian Schmidt. The Wisconsin Department of Justice explains the use of a Writ of Mandamus, stating, "The Wisconsin Public Records Law provides several courses of action for a requester dissatisfied with an authority’s response, or lack of response, to a public records request. An action for mandamus, which asks a court to order the release of requested records, is available if an authority denies an entire request or part of a request or delays granting access to a requested record." That case was closed on July 29, 2024, and it does not appear those documents were ever given to Brylski.

On July 31, 2024, the libel case against John Brylski was "dismissed by court or dismissed by court order," and there will not be a jury trial or any further proceedings in this court case.

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