Judge Grants Class-Action Status To Open Records Lawsuit

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma County judge Friday approves a request by an attorney to grant class-action status to a lawsuit filed concerning Oklahoma City's rules for people who want copies of

Friday, June 22nd 2007, 7:48 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma County judge Friday approves a request by an attorney to grant class-action status to a lawsuit filed concerning Oklahoma City's rules for people who want copies of public records.

Mike Gassaway, the attorney for Elisa LeFlore, who filed the suit against the city in April 2006, says the ruling by District Judge Bryan Dixon means that the suit can go forward.

The suit alleges the city violated the Oklahoma Open Records Act by charging search fees to people who wanted copies of law enforcement records.

The law allows such fees to be charged only if the request is, quote, "solely for commercial purpose" or if it would cause, quote, "excessive disruption" of essential functions of the public body.

Diane Lewis, a deputy city attorney, says it has not yet been determined who the "class" in the case is or how many years back the case might go.