Seems odd that anyone requesting public records legally under FOIA can be sued.
She should file a SLAPP lawsuit against the union.
Your error is that you forget that our civil legal system is an open door tort system. There is no gate keeper to decide what suits can or cannot proceed. If you have the filing fee or are filing as 'forma pauperis' (status), you obligate / force the opposing party to respond to you. NEA is not, by any means, poor or without resource!
Same to me, but I looked up the RI laws, by requesting declaratory relief, they have to add anyone affected as a party, hence her inclusion.
The suit itself is pretty bad. The people involved aren’t just union members, they are public servants, and their correspondence within the scope of their employment is a public record. As teachers, when they discuss implementing a curriculum, they are within the scope of their employment, hence there is no basis for the discussions to be withheld. The suit is pretty far out there.