Small publisher wins public records case

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A state Court of Appeal has ruled that a small-town California newspaper publisher does not have to pay legal fees to a school board he sued over his public records request —a decision hailed by First Amendment advocates as a victory for government transparency.

A loss in the case could have chilled the public and journalists from challenging government agencies that are withholding documents sought under California’s Public Records Act, said Peter Scheer, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition. He said that fear of being hit with legal fees could deter people from suing to obtain public records.

Neither attorneys for the school board nor the district superintendent immediately returned telephone calls seeking comment.

FAC organized the appeal and, with one of its board, underwrote the paper’s legal expenses.

Tim Crews, who started the 3,000-circulation paper 23 years ago, said the school board delayed its response and he eventually sued to get the information he was seeking.