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Public records law isn't worth the paper its written on
In a war over news releases, there’s no clear winner.
The West Valley View newspaper in Litchfield Park recently took on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office in a lawsuit, demanding that the biweekly be put back on the sheriff’s office email list to receive news releases after it was dropped from the list last fall.
The West Valley View newspaper in Litchfield Park recently took on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office in a lawsuit, demanding that the biweekly be put back on the sheriff’s office email list to receive news releases after it was dropped from the list last fall.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=69152
News release war with sheriff settled
By Christian Richardson, Tribune
July 6, 2006
In a war over news releases, there’s no clear winner.
The West Valley View newspaper in Litchfield Park recently took on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office in a lawsuit, demanding that the biweekly be put back on the sheriff’s office email list to receive news releases after it was dropped from the list last fall.
The sheriff’s office claimed the newspaper had misstated facts.
The publisher contends the office was upset that the newspaper didn’t write about all news releases sent to them and didn’t mention the office’s involvement in some cases.
On June 30, county Superior Court Judge Margaret H. Downie issued her decision on the suit.
Both sides are claiming victory.
The judge said the newspaper is entitled to receiving news releases at the same time as other news outlets, but they can get releases through regular mail
or by picking them up at the sheriff’s office.
Downie concluded by saying that although the sheriff’s office refused to give the paper news releases through e-mail “appears petty,” it wasn’t done “in bad faith.”
Dan Barr, attorney for the West Valley View, said he believes Downie’s ruling entitles the newspaper to receive e-mailed news releases.
But Dennis Wilenchik, attorney for the sheriff’s office, disagrees with Barr’s interpretation.
He said the judge specifically stated that the sheriff’s office didn’t violate Arizona’s public records law when it scratched the media outlet from the e-mail list.
Wilenchik added that the sheriff’s office will appeal a portion of the judge’s ruling that allows the West Valley View to automatically receive all future news releases.
Wilenchik said he doesn’t believe the state’s freedom of information law allows for a newspaper to request information about an event that hasn’t happened.
Arpaio claims that it is his choice to send out news releases.
“Nobody’s going to tell me I have to send information to everybody, the whole world,” Arpaio said.
Contact Christian Richardson by email, or phone (480) 898-6446
News release war with sheriff settled
By Christian Richardson, Tribune
July 6, 2006
In a war over news releases, there’s no clear winner.
The West Valley View newspaper in Litchfield Park recently took on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office in a lawsuit, demanding that the biweekly be put back on the sheriff’s office email list to receive news releases after it was dropped from the list last fall.
The sheriff’s office claimed the newspaper had misstated facts.
The publisher contends the office was upset that the newspaper didn’t write about all news releases sent to them and didn’t mention the office’s involvement in some cases.
On June 30, county Superior Court Judge Margaret H. Downie issued her decision on the suit.
Both sides are claiming victory.
The judge said the newspaper is entitled to receiving news releases at the same time as other news outlets, but they can get releases through regular mail
or by picking them up at the sheriff’s office.
Downie concluded by saying that although the sheriff’s office refused to give the paper news releases through e-mail “appears petty,” it wasn’t done “in bad faith.”
Dan Barr, attorney for the West Valley View, said he believes Downie’s ruling entitles the newspaper to receive e-mailed news releases.
But Dennis Wilenchik, attorney for the sheriff’s office, disagrees with Barr’s interpretation.
He said the judge specifically stated that the sheriff’s office didn’t violate Arizona’s public records law when it scratched the media outlet from the e-mail list.
Wilenchik added that the sheriff’s office will appeal a portion of the judge’s ruling that allows the West Valley View to automatically receive all future news releases.
Wilenchik said he doesn’t believe the state’s freedom of information law allows for a newspaper to request information about an event that hasn’t happened.
Arpaio claims that it is his choice to send out news releases.
“Nobody’s going to tell me I have to send information to everybody, the whole world,” Arpaio said.
Contact Christian Richardson by email, or phone (480) 898-6446
For more information:
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php...
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