Maine’s highest court has affirmed a lower court’s ruling that a public agency in the state acted in bad faith when it withheld records from a nonprofit group.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday that the Maine County Commissioners’ Association Self-Funded Risk Management Pool acted in a way that was “deceptive and abusive” when it withheld records from Human Rights Defense Center.
Human Rights Defense Center sought the information about a settlement payment to a Black man who said he hadat a state correctional facility while awaiting trial, the Kennebec Journal reported. A lower court ruled the risk pool must pay attorneys fees and release the documents. The risk pool “deliberately withheld access to documents in its possession that clearly were responsive to the request and should have been disclosed,” the high court ruled in its affirmation of the judgment.
The ruling represents “the first time that bad faith has been found in a FOAA case and that attorney fees have been awarded,” said Anahita Sotoohi with the ACLU of Maine, which represented Human Rights Defense Center.The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Two boaters jump overboard when 48-foot yacht goes up in flames off Maine coastTwo boaters jumped overboard to save themselves after a fire engulfed a 48-foot yacht off the Maine coast, the Coast Guard said. Several lobster boats came to the rescue, and one plucked the men out of the water.
Read more »
Maine man, 86, convicted of assuming dead brother’s identity for more than half a centuryAn 86-year-old Maine man was convicted last week of assuming his dead brother's identity and using it to obtain a second passport and receive dual Social Security benefits.
Read more »
Two years after fall of Kabul, Afghan military veterans grapple with a new life in MaineSeveral veterans of an elite airborne unit in Afghanistan have resettled in Auburn, Maine — and they say the transition has been disorienting.
Read more »
Letters to the EditorLetters to the Editor: Niles-Maine District library contract.
Read more »
Seattle's Little League team 1 win away from US Championship appearanceNortheast Seattle defeated Nolensville, Tennessee 6-2 Monday after dominating Maine in a mercy rule-shortened game last week.
Read more »