Newspaper sues Louisiana parish for access to records

A newspaper is counter-suing a Louisiana parish after its deputy attorney asked a court for a protective order to stop the release of public records related to a federal investigation and state ethics inquiry,The Times-Picayune reported.

The Times-Picayune filed suit against Jefferson Parish this week for contracts related to the business relationships between the chief administrator, who co-owns an insurance agency, and local public agencies and government contractors.

The case began when the newspaper requested the records under the state’s freedom of information laws. The parish sued two media outlets last week and claimed the records must be withheld because they are under a federal subpoena and a part of a state ethics investigation of the chief administrator.

The Times-Picayune maintains that no state or federal law exempts the records in this case, and is asking the court to grant access to the contracts and require the parish to pay the newspaper’s legal fees. A hearing is scheduled Dec. 15.