PHOENIX — Government entities that destroy a public record they know has been requested violate state law and can be held liable — and even forced to pay the challenger’s legal fees — the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Friday.
In a wide-ranging decision, the state’s high court also gave new rights to those whose demand for records is frustrated by administrative delays and denials, including, in some cases, getting their legal fees paid.
Possibly most important, the justices concluded that trial judges should give no deference to a public agency’s determination that a particular document is not subject to disclosure.
