State to pay $250K to newspapers over child abuse records

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The state will pay a $250,000 penalty to Kentucky’s two largest newspapers to settle a lawsuit over obtaining records of child abuse deaths and serious injuries.

Monday’s agreement with the state ends seven years of litigation that resulted in public access to state social service records in cases where children die or are seriously injured by abuse or neglect.

The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/1pgesEp ) and the Lexington Herald-Leader (http://bit.ly/1pdSqC4 ) report they’ll each receive $125,000 in fines after a judge ruled Kentucky violated the state open records act by refusing to release the records.

In addition to the fines, the state will also pay legal costs of $339,000 to the Courier-Journal and $110,000 to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Herald-Leader President Rufus Friday says gaining access to the records promotes greater openness in child welfare.

 

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