Statement on 2017–2018 Ann Arbor Observer Coverage and the Underlying Record

A document-based statement concerning prior reporting, court proceedings, institutional investigations, and the underlying record.

Beginning in December 2017 and continuing through 2018, the Ann Arbor Observer published a series of four related articles concerning matters involving Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou.

Following efforts by Dr. Myria Petrou to resolve the matter directly with the Ann Arbor Observer, including requests to review underlying documentation and to remove the online articles, litigation was initiated in 2018 after those efforts were unsuccessful.

In federal proceedings, the continued publication of the articles and their asserted public interest justification were placed at issue and examined before the court, as reflected in contemporaneous accounts, including Maria Petrou’s December 11, 2021 letter addressing the continued publication of the articles and their asserted public interest basis.

Certain matters referenced in that coverage were later made subject to confidentiality agreements, which now limit the ability to publicly address those aspects of the publications in full.

The published narrative relies in part on third-party accounts and characterizations that are presented without the underlying documentary context or supporting records.

The articles also reference reporting related to federal matters without engaging the underlying court record, including proceedings before the U.S. District Court and related federal actions filed in 2018.

That record has developed over multiple filings and proceedings and has identified substantial FBI records through federal proceedings, providing a documented record not reflected in the published coverage. Subsequent litigation filings further reflect that the articles were circulated to professional colleagues beyond their original publication, including by Dr. Ella Kazerooni, then serving as interim chair at the University of Michigan.

The public documentary record—including underlying University of Michigan Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) Title IX investigative materials and law enforcement activity such as the Ann Arbor Police Department investigation of Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou—reflects a broader and more fully developed account than is reported by the Ann Arbor Observer, including materials documented within this archive.

Documentation regarding the underlying record was subsequently provided to the Ann Arbor Observer and its editor, John Hilton, including direct outreach by Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou, with requests to review the underlying evidence and documentation, and an opportunity for follow-up engagement was extended to him without substantive reply or explanation.

Readers are encouraged to review the primary records available throughout this site.

The following materials reflect the underlying documentary record referenced above:

DOJ Joint Status Report Identifying FBI Records (U.S. Attorney Filing)

Federal court filing identifying FBI records in connection with the matters at issue.

University of Michigan OIE Investigation Record (Credibility and “Insufficient Evidence” Findings)

Underlying Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) investigative record, illustrating how findings characterized as “insufficient evidence” reflect detailed credibility assessments and evidentiary analysis.

This reporting is addressed in subsequent notice provided to the Ann Arbor Observer regarding the underlying documentary record and related proceedings.

See: Notice to Ann Arbor Observer Editor-in-Chief Brooke Black (April 6, 2026)

The distinction between published reporting and the documented record is reflected across these materials.

Related Reporting

Brad Foerster, MD PhD

Brad Foerster is a FOIA advocate documenting requests, transparency disputes, and accountability investigations involving public agencies, universities, police oversight, and Russia-Gate related inquiries. His work compiles original documents, timelines, and analysis of public records and institutional responses. Brad is also a board-certified radiologist, author of Town & Gown, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Brad lives in Potomac, Maryland with his family and is active in the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.