FAYETTEVILLE -- A trial is scheduled for Wednesday in a former university employee's battle to get five years' worth of emails from two co-workers under the state's public disclosure law.
Wade Cash filed a lawsuit in June in Washington County Circuit Court contending that the University of Arkansas failed to comply with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The law "gives Arkansans access to public records and public meetings, with limited exceptions," according to the state attorney general's office.
The university has said Cash's request would require the hiring of extra workers and that Cash should pay the expense associated with their help.
The university estimated to Cash before the lawsuit was filed that it would cost $6,757.50 to review and copy the 14,000 to 16,000 records that would satisfy his request.
Cash first asked UA for cellphone records -- including text messages -- and emails related to accounts of two former co-workers in January 2013. UA provided some records in March 2013 and then an attorney for Cash in July 2013 clarified he was seeking all incoming and outgoing email from the two email addresses. The request was for email from Jan. 1, 2008, to the present.
Cash previously worked as a technician for the Arkansas Water Resources Center, part of UA's Division of Agriculture.
Circuit Judge Doug Martin is scheduled to preside over the bench trial, which is expected to last one day.
Metro on 04/21/2015