Comments on: Florida’s frequent FOIA flyers, and their law firm connection https://www.overlawyered.com/2014/12/foia-misuse/ Chronicling the high cost of our legal system Wed, 10 Dec 2014 15:58:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: Allan https://www.overlawyered.com/2014/12/foia-misuse/comment-page-1/#comment-314504 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:09:26 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=49623#comment-314504 But the article says that the lawsuits were the result of tweaks made in 2013. “The foundation and the law firm are exploiting an April 2013 amendment to state law that requires private companies holding public records to make them available.”

]]> By: gitarcarver https://www.overlawyered.com/2014/12/foia-misuse/comment-page-1/#comment-314484 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:21:47 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=49623#comment-314484 Allan,

I believe your memory is faulty.

Florida has had a type of FOIA since 1909 according to the Florida State Attorney General’s Office: http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/DC0B20B7DC22B7418525791B006A54E4

The 1995 Sunshine Review Act eliminated some exemptions to the open records requirements. Later legislative action removed further barriers to records access including provisions for online access to records.

In short, the Florida Sunshine Law (Chapter 119) has been around for a long time.

]]> By: Allan https://www.overlawyered.com/2014/12/foia-misuse/comment-page-1/#comment-314478 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:27:08 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=49623#comment-314478 If memory serves, when the law passed (2013), both houses of the legislature and the executive were controlled by Republicans. FOIA-type laws are usually not the baliwick of those in power, especially Republicans. I wonder what was going on to get this law passed.

This is certainly not the first time companies have taken advantage of laws to make illegitimate profits. Is this an example of rent seeking?

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