New court filing: Documents were deleted from GOP redistricting computers (wi)

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9. Juicy... firm that helped draw maps fined aprox. $17,500 for filing frivolous motions.

The Legislature hired the law firm Michael Best & Friedrich to help draw the maps, and the three state computers were housed in the law firm's Madison office to do that work.

Michael Best repeatedly tried to block releasing documents in the case, and in early 2012 wasEric McLeod, who was in charge of the work for Michael Best, left the firm last year, and Michael Best officials have declined to say if his departure was related to the redistricting case.

Michael Best launched an internal investigation to find out why documents were not turned over to the plaintiffs, but the firm has told the court it does not know if it can answer that question. The court in its ruling Monday said it was dissatisfied with the internal investigation so far and said the plaintiffs can use their own computer consultant to do its search of the computers.

Lawmakers passed three laws when they developed the maps - one to establish the legislative maps, one to establish the congressional maps and one to change the rules for how redistricting is done. Attorneys for the Republican lawmakers have said they did not release any records related to the law that changed redistricting rules because they did not believe they were covered by subpoenas for their records. But the court said those documents must now be released.