(BILOXI, Miss.) A Gulf Coast newspaper has sued the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to get access to some financial records.
The Sun Herald reports that it filed suit Wednesday in Harrison County Chancery Court.
The Sun Herald is seeking a judge's order compelling MDMR to produce the records. The newspaper also asked for a hearing on the lawsuit to be held within three days, as the Mississippi Public Records Act calls for expedited relief.
The MDMR has cited a state auditor's investigation to deny the Sun Herald access to the records. MDMR attorney Sandy Chesnut has claimed the financial records fall under the law's criminal investigations exemption.
Sun Herald attorney Henry Laird says the MDMR is unable to claim the exemption because it applies to law enforcement agencies.
