FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N and M ERCI ER, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ay 4, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A 17 A0 6 2 0

. CONSUM ER CRE D I T R E S E A R C H F O U N D A T I O N v. BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIV E R SITY SYSTEM

OF GEORGIA et al

.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

At i s s u e i n th i s ap p eal is wh et h er s t at e ag en ci es h av e t h e di s cret io n to rel eas e

m a t e r i a l s rel at ed t o acad em i c res earch in res p o n s e t o a req u es t m ad e u n d er t h e

Geo rg i a Op en Reco rd s Act , ev en i f t h e Act s p eci fi cal ly ex em p t s t h e m at eri al s fro m

d i s cl os u re t o t he p u b l i c an d a p ri v at e p art y has s ued t o en jo i n t h ei r rel eas e. Th e t ri al

co u rt co n cl u d ed th at s t at e ag en ci es h av e s u ch di s cret i o n ary au t h o ri t y , l ead i n g t h e

co u rt t o g ran t s u m

m ary ju d g m en t to t h e Bo ard o f Reg en t s o f t h e Un i v ers i t y Sy s t em

o f Geo rg i a an d t h e Cam p ai g n fo r Ac c o u nt ab i l i t y (co l l ect i v el y , t h e “ U ni v ers i t y

Defen d an t s ”) an d t o d en y s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e Co n s um er Cred i t Res e arch

Fo u n d at i o n (t he “ Fo u nd at i o n ”). Ho wev er, i n Bo wer s v

. S hel t o n , 26 5 Ga. 2 4 7

, 2 4 8

-

2 4 9 (1 ) ( 4 5 3 SE2 d 7 4 1 ) (1 9 9 5 ), t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f G eo rg i a h el d t h at a s t at e

ag en cy ’ s co m

p l i an ce wi th t h e s p eci fi c ex cep t i o ns t o di s cl o s ure co n t ai n ed i n t h e Op enReco rd s Act i s m an d at ory rat h er t h an d i s cret i o n ary , an d t h at p ri v at e part i es m ay s u e

t o en jo i n an ag en cy fro m rel eas i n g reco rd s t hat fal l w i t hi n o n e o f t h os e ex cep t i o n s

.

Bas ed o n t h e Bo wer

s d eci s i o n , t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ho l d i n g t h a t a s t at e ag en cy ’ s

co m p l ian ce wi t h t h e s p eci fi c ex cep t i o n s t o d i s cl o s u re fo r m at eri al s rel at ed to

acad em i c res earch was d i s cret i o n ary . Acco rd i n g l y , b ecau s e th e tri al co u rt rel i ed o n

an erro n eo u s l eg al t h eo ry , we v acat e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u m m ary j u d g m e n t o rd er an d

rem an d fo r fu rt her p ro ceed i n gs co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n io n

.

Th e rel ev an t fact s are u n d i s p u t ed

. In No v em b er 2 0 13

, t h e Fo u n d at i o n en t ered

i n t o a co n s u l t i n g ag reem en t w i t h th e Ken n es aw St at e U n i vers i t y Res earch an d

Serv i ce Fo u n d at i o n

. In acco rd an ce wi t h th e ag reem en t

, a Ken n es aw St at e U ni v ers i t y

(“ KS U ”) p ro fes s o r co n d u ct ed st at i s t i cal res earch an d an al y s i s rel at in g t o “ p ay d ay ”

l o an s , wh i ch t h e p ro fes so r i n co rp o rat ed i n to a p ap er t hat was p u bl i s h ed i n 2 0 1 4

.

In J u n e 2 0 1 5

, th e Cam

p ai g n fo r Acco u nt ab i l i t y (“ CFA”) s en t a req ues t t o KSU

u n d er t h e Geo rg i a Op en Reco rd s Act

, OCGA § 5 0 -1 8-7 0 et s eq ., fo r co p i es o f cert ai n

co rres p o n d en ce, i n cl u di n g e-m ai l s an d o t h er c o m m u n i cat io n s b et w een t h e KSU

p ro fes s o r an d th e Fo un d at io n rel at i ng t o t h e p ro fes s or’ s p ay d a y -l o an res earch (t h e

“ res earch co rres po n d en ce”). KSU i n fo rm ed t he CFA th at i t d id n o t o p p o s e t h e rel eas e

o f t h e res earch co rres p o n den ce i n red act ed fo rm an d n ot i fi ed t h e Fo u n d at i o n t h at i t

2p l an n ed t o rel eas e t h e red act ed co rres p on d en ce t o t he CFA in res po n s e t o t h e o p en

reco rd s req u es t

.

Th e Fo u n dat i o n o b

ject ed t o KSU rel eas i n g t h e res earch co rres p o n d en ce t o t h e

CFA. Becau s e KSU i s p art o f t h e Un i v ers i t y Sy s t em o f Geo rg i a, t he Fo u n dat i o n fi l ed

t h e i n s t an t act i o n fo r d ecl arat o ry an d i n ju nct i v e rel i ef ag ai n s t t h e Bo ard o f Reg en t s

i n t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt of Fu l t o n Co u nt y to p rev en t t h e r e l eas e o f t h e res earch

co rres p o n d en ce u n d er t h e Op en Reco rd s Act

. Th e tri al co u rt g ra n t e d t h e CFA’ s

m o ti o n t o i n t erv en e i n t h e act i o n as a p art y d efen d an t

.

Th e part i es fi led cro s s -m o t i o n s fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t reg ard i n g th e rel eas e o f

t h e res earch co rres p o n den ce. Th e Fo u n dat i o n em p h as i zed t h at th e Op en Reco rd s Act

co n tai n s a l i s t o f s p eci fi c ex cep t i o n s t o p u b l ic d i s cl o s u re i n OCGA § 5 0-1 8 -7 2 (a) an d

arg u ed t h at t he res earch co rres p o n d en ce wa s s p e c i fi cal l y ex em p t fro m d i s cl o s u re

u n d er t w o o f t h o s e ex cep t io n s fo r acad em i c res earch -rel at ed m at eri al s , OCGA § 5 0

-

1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 5 ) an d (3 6 ) (t h e “ res earch ex cep t i o n s ”). 1 Th e Fo u nd at i o n fu rt h er arg u ed

1 Th e t w o res earch ex cep t i o n s p ro v i d e i n rel ev an t p art : (a) Pu b l i c d i s cl o s u re s h al l n o t b e req u i red fo r reco rd s t h at are:

. . . . ( 3 5 ) Dat a, reco rd s , o r i n fo rm at i o n o f a p ro p ri et ary n at u re p ro d u c e d o r

co l l ect ed b y o r fo r facu l t y o r s t aff o f s t at e i n s t i t u t i o n s o f h i g h er l earn i n g ,

o r o t her go v ern m en t al ag en ci es , i n t h e co n d u ct o f, o r as a res u l t o f, s t u d y

o r res earch o n co m

m erci al

, s ci en t i fi c, t ech ni cal

, o r sch o larl y i s s ues ,

3t h at b ecau s e t h e res earch ex cep t i o n s t o d i s cl o su re ap p li ed

, KSU was p ro h i b i t ed fro m

rel eas i n g t h e res earch co rres po n d en ce t o t h e CFA.

Th e Un i vers i t y D efen d an t s res p o n d ed t hat t he Fo u n d at i o n had fai l ed t o p ro v e

t h at t h e res earch co rres p o n d en ce fel l wi t hi n ei t h er o f t h e t wo res earch ex cep t i on s

fo u n d i n t h e Op en Re c o r d s Act

. Th e Un iv ers i t y Defen d an t s fu rt h er res p o n d ed t h at

ev en i f t he res earch co rres p o n d e n c e fel l wi t h i n t h e t wo res earch ex cep t io n s , t h o s e

ex cep t i o n s s i m

p l y p erm i t t ed

, b u t d i d no t req u i re, KSU to wi t h h o l d t h e

co rres p o n d en ce fro m d i s cl o s ure. Co n s eq u en t l y , t h e Un i vers i t y Defen d an t s arg u ed

,

wh et h er s p o n s o red b y t h e i n s t i t u t i on al o n e o r i n co n ju n ct i o n wi t h a

g o v ern m en t al b o d y o r p r i v a t e co n cern , w h ere s uch d at a, reco rd s , o r i n fo rm at i o n has n o t been p u b li c l y rel eas ed

, pu b l i s h ed

, co p y ri g h t ed

, o r

p at en t ed ; (3 6 ) An y d at a, reco rd s , o r i n fo rm at i o n d ev el o ped

, co l l ect ed

, o r recei v ed

b y o r o n b eh al f o f facu l t y , s t aff, em p lo y ees , or st u d en t s o f an i n s t i t u t i o n

o f h i g her ed u cat i o n or an y p u b li c o r p ri vat e en t i t y s u p p ort i n g o r

p art i ci pat i n g i n t h e act i v it i es o f an i n st i t u t i o n o f h i g h er ed u cat i o n i n th e

co n d u c t o f

, or as a res u l t o f, s t u d y or res earch o n m ed i cal

, s ci en ti fi c,

t ech n i cal

, s ch o l arl y , o r art i s t i c i s su es , w h et h er s p o n s o red b y t h e i n s t i t u t i o n al o n e o r i n co n ju n ct i o n wi t h a g ov ern m en t al b o d y o r p ri vat e

en t i t y , u n t i l s u ch i n fo rm at i o n i s p u b l i s h ed

, p at en t ed

, o t herwi s e p u b l i cl y d i s s em i n at ed

, o r rel eas ed t o an ag en cy w h ereu p o n t h e req u es t m u st b e

m ad e t o th e ag en cy

. Th i s p arag rap h s h al l ap p ly t o , b u t s h a l l n ot be

l i m i t ed t o , i n fo rm at i o n pro v i d ed b y p art i ci p an t s i n res earch

, res earch

n o t es an d d a ta, d is co v eri es , res earch p ro ject s , m et h od o lo g ies

, p ro t o co l s ,

an d creat iv e wo rk s

. . . . OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 5), (3 6).

4KSU h ad t h e di scret i o nary au t h o ri t y t o rel eas e t he res earch co rres p o n de n c e t o t h e

CFA ev en i f t h e r e s e a r c h ex cep t i on s fo u n d i n OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 5 ) an d (3 6 )

ap p li ed

.

In res p o n se t o t h e cro ss -m o t i o n s fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t

, t he t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e Un i v ers i t y Defen d an t s an d d en i ed i t t o t h e Fo u nd at i o n

. Th e

t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e two res earch ex cep t i o n s i n t he Op en Reco rd s Act au t h o ri zed

a st at e ag en cy to wi t h h o l d res earch m at eri al s co v ered b y t h e ex cep t i o n s fro m p u b l i c

d i s cl os u re, b u t t h at t he Act d i d n o t m an d at e n o nd i s cl o s u re. Bas ed o n i t s co n cl u s i o n

t h at t he res earch ex cep ti o n s d i d n o t p l ace a m a n d a t o ry d u t y o n st at e ag en ci es to

wi t h h o l d res earch m at eri al s co v ered by th e ex cep t i o n s fro m p u bl i c d i scl o s u re, t h e

t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at KSU h ad t h e d i s cret i o n t o rel eas e t h e res earch co rres p o n d en ce

i n res p o n s e t o t h e Op en Reco rd s Act req u es t m ad e b y t h e CFA, ev en as s u m i n g t h at

t h e co rres p o n d en ce fel l wi t h i n o n e o r b ot h of th e res earch ex cep t i o n s. Th e t ri al co u rt

u l t i m at el y di d no t res o l v e wh et h er an y o f th e res earch co rres po n d en ce fel l wi t h i n t h e

t wo res earch ex cep t i o ns co n t ai n ed i n t h e Op en Reco rd s Ac t

. Th e Fo u n d at i o n n o w

ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u m m ary ju d g m en t o rd er.

Ou r rev iew o f a tri al co u rt ’ s s t at u t o ry i n t erp ret at i o n i s d e n o v o , Ken n ed y Dev.

Co

. v. Ca mp , 2 9 0 Ga. 2 5 7

, 2 58 (7 1 9 SE2 d 4 4 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ), an d we b eg i n o u r rev i ew wi th

5a s u m

m ary o f t h e ap pl i cab le s tat u t o ry fram ewo rk

. Th e Geo rg i a Op en Reco r d s A c t

au t h o ri zes t h e pe r sona l i n s pect i o n an d co p y i n g o f p u b l i c reco rd s , “ ex cep t t ho s e wh i ch

b y o rd er o f a co u rt o f t h i s s t at e or b y l aw are s p eci fi cal l y ex em pt ed fro m d i s cl o s u re.”

OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 1 (a). As p rev i o u s l y n o t ed

, s ev eral s peci fi c ex cep t io n s t o d i s cl o s u re

are l i s t ed i n OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) o f t h e Act

, i n cl u d in g t h e two res earch ex cep t i on s

fo u n d i n OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 5 ) an d (3 6 ).

“ Becau s e p u bl i c p o l i cy s tro n g l y fav ors o p en g o v ern m en t

, an y pu rp o rt ed

s t at u to ry ex em

p t i o n fro m d i s cl o s u re u n d er t h e Op en Reco rd s Act m u s t be n arro wl y

co n st ru ed .” (Pu n ct u at i on , fo o t n o t e, an d em p h as is o m i t t ed

. ) Ci t

y o f At l a n t a v. Co r ey

En t er t a i n men t

, 2 7 8 Ga. 4 74

, 4 7 6 (1 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 1 4 0 ) (2 0 0 4 ). See OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 0

(a). “ Ho wev er, al t h o u g h ex em p t i o n s fro m d i s cl o s u re u n d er th e Op en Reco rd s Act are

n arro wl y co n s tru ed

, th e Act ob v i o u s l y s h o u l d n o t b e co n s t ru ed i n d ero g at i o n o f i t s

ex p res s t erm s

. ” ( C i t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Eva n s v. Ga

. Bu r ea u of

In ves t i g at i o n , 29 7 Ga. 31 8

, 31 9 (7 7 3 SE2 d 7 2 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ). “ [E] v en wh en do cu m en t s are

fo u n d t o be p u b li c reco rd s , an d t h erefo re o p en fo r i ns p ect i o n b y t h e p u b l i c, t here m ay

b e s o m e m at eri al co n t ai n ed t h erei n w h i ch fo r co m pet i n g pu b l i c p o l i cy reas o n s are n ot

s u b ject t o d i s cl o s u re.” Ha r ri s v. Co x En t er pr i s es , 25 6 Ga. 2 9 9

, 3 0 0 (3 4 8 SE2 d 4 4 8 )

(1 9 8 6) (p er cu ri am ) (o n m o t i on fo r reco n s i d erat i o n ),

6Th e Op en Reco rd s Act al s o au t h o ri zes act i o ns t o e n f o rce i t s p ro v i s i o n s

.

Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e Act g ran ts l eg al an d eq ui t ab l e ju ri s d i ct i o n to t h e s u p eri o r co u rt s o f

t h i s s t at e “ t o en tert ai n act i o n s ag ai n st p ers on s o r ag en ci es h av i n g cu s t o d y o f reco rd s

o p en t o t h e p u b l i c u n d e r [t h e Op en Reco rd s Act ] t o en fo rce co m p l i an ce wi t h t h e

p ro v is i o n s o f [t h e Act ]

. ” OCGA § 50 -1 8 -7 3 (a). En fo rcem en t act i o n s “ m ay b e

b ro u gh t b y an y p ers o n , fi rm , co rp o rat i o n , or o t h er en t i t y .” Id

. An d wh i l e t h e Op en

Reco rd s Act do es n o t au t h o ri ze an award o f co m p en s at o ry o r pu n i t i ve d am ag es t o a

p art y bri n g i n g a ci v i l en fo rcem en t act i o n , M cBr i d e v. W et h er i n g to n , 1 99 Ga. Ap p

. 7,

8 (4 0 3 SE2 d 87 3 ) (1 99 1), a co u rt can s an ct i o n s t at e ag en ci es t h at n eg l i g en t l y v i o l at e

t h e Act wi t h ci v i l p en al t i e s a n d a w ard at t o rn ey fees u n d er cert ai n ci rcu m s t an ces

.

OCGA § § 5 0-1 8 -7 3 (b ); 5 0 -1 8 -7 4 (a).

M i n dfu l o f t h i s s t at u to ry fram ewo rk

, w e tu rn t o t h e s p eci fi c arg um en t s rai s ed

h ere. On ap p eal

, t he Fo u n d a t i o n arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ru l i n g t hat KSU

h ad t h e d i s cret i o n t o rel eas e t h e res earch co rres p o n d en ce t o t h e CFA, e v e n i f t h e

co rres p o n d en ce was s p eci fi cal l y ex em p t fro m d i s cl o s u re u n d er th e res earch

ex cep t i o n s fo u n d i n O CGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 5 ) an d (3 6 ) o f t h e Op en Reco rd s Act

.

Acco rd in g t o t h e Fo u n d at i o n , t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g is i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e reas o n i n g

7an d an al y s is o f th e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt i n Bo wer s v. S hel t o n , 2 6 5 Ga. 24 7

, 2 4 8

-

2 4 9 (1 ) (4 5 3 SE2 d 7 41 ) (1 9 9 5 )

. W e ag ree.

In Bo wer s , t he Su prem e Co urt ad d res s ed t h e q u es ti o n wh et h er a pri v at e p art y

can b ri n g s u i t to en

jo in t h e d i s cl o s u re o f p u b l i c reco rd s u n d er t h e Op en Reco rd s Act

.

2 6 5 Ga. at 2 4 8 -2 4 9 (1 ). In ad d res s i n g t h i s q u es t i o n , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt co m p ared t h e

Geo rg i a Op en Reco rd s Act t o t h e fed eral Freed o m o f In fo rm at i o n Act

, 5 USC § 5 5 2

et s eq

. (“ FOIA”). Bo wer

s , 2 6 5 Ga. at 2 4 8 -2 4 9 (1 ). Th e Su p rem e Co urt n o t ed t h at t h e

F O I A ’ s “ p ro v i s i o n s ex em p t i n g s p eci fi ed in f

or m a tion f r o m disc losur e [ a r e ] m e a nt only

t o p erm i t t h e g o v ern m en tal ag en cy t o wi t h h o l d c e r t a i n i n fo rm at i o n , an d [are] n ot

m ean t to m an dat e n on d i s cl o s u re.” Id

. at 2 4 8 (1 ). See 5 USC § 5 5 2 (b ); Ch r ys ler Co r p.

v. B r o wn , 4 4 1 U .S. 2 8 1

, 2 9 0 -2 9 4 (II) (9 9 SCt 17 0 5

, 6 0 L E2 d 2 0 8 ) (1 9 7 9 ). T h u s , t h e

Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt p o i n t e d o ut

, t h e FOIA “ i m p os es n o affi rm at i v e d u t y o n an

a g e n c y t o wi t hh o l d i nfo rm at i o n s ou g h t ,” ev en if t he in fo rm at io n is s peci fi cal l y

ex em p t ed fro m d i s cl o s u re. Bo wer

s , 2 6 5 Ga. at 2 4 8 (1 ).

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt em

p h as i zed

, h o wev er, t h at t h e Geo rg i a Op en Reco rd s Act

“ m at eri al l y d i ffers fro m t h e FOIA.” Bo wer s , 2 6 5 Ga. at 2 4 9 (1 ). As th e Su p rem e

Co u rt ex p l ai n ed

,

8[t ] h e Geo rg i a Act rel at in g t o t h e i n s p ect i o n o f p u b l i c reco rd s , OCGA §

5 0 -1 8 -7 0 et s eq ., req u i res d i s cl o su re o f p u b l i c reco rd s , wi th cert ai n

ex cep t i on s en u m erat ed at OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a). W h i l e t h e en u m erat ed

ex cep t i on s are s im i l ar t o t h o s e co nt ai n ed i n t h e FOIA, t h i s Co u rt h as

d et erm i ned t h at t h e Geo rg i a Act ma n d a t es t he n o n d i s cl o su r e of cert ai n

ex cep t ed i n fo rm at i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i tt ed ; em p has i s i n o ri g in al .) Id . at 2 4 8 (1 ).

In co n cl u di n g t h at t h e no n d is cl o s u re o f st at ut o ri l y ex c e p t e d i n fo rm at i o n i s

m an d at o ry rat h er t h an d i s cret i o n ary un d er t h e Geo rg i a Op en Reco rd s Act

, t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt i n Bo wer s rel i ed i n p art o n i t s p ri or d eci s i o n i n Ha r ri s v. Co x

En t er p ri s es

, In c. , 2 5 6 Ga. 2 9 9 (3 4 8 SE2 d 4 4 8 ) (1 9 8 6 ). Bo wer s , 2 65 Ga. at 2 4 8 -2 4 9

(1 ). In Ha r ri s , t he Su p rem e Co urt h el d t h at t h e Geo rg i a Op en Reco rd s Act “ req u i res

a cu s t o d i an o f p ub l i c reco rd s t o p res erv e t h e co nfi d en t i al i t y o f i n fo rm at i o n t h a t t h e

p u b l i c d o es n o t h av e a ri g h t t o s ee,” an d t h at t h e St at e co ul d n o t “ b y wai v er,

i n ad v ert e n t o r n ot

, al l o w ex em p t ed i n fo rm at i o n t o b e m ad e p u b l i c.” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) 2 5 6 Ga. at 3 0 0

. 2 Th e Ha r r i s Co u rt reas on ed t h at t he St at e co u ld

2 Ha r r i s , in t urn , rel i ed on t h e earl ier Su p rem e Co u rt cas e o f Gr i f fi n -S p a l d i n g C o u n t y Ho s p

. Au t h

. v. Ra d i o S t a t i o n W KEU

, 2 4 0 Ga. 4 4 4

, 4 4 6 (3 ) (2 4 1 SE2 d 1 9 6 ) (1 9 7 8), wh ere t he Co urt h el d t h at “ t h e i n t en t o f t h e Gen eral As s em b l y was t o affo rd

t o t he p u b l i c at l arg e acces s t o p u b l i c reco rd s wi th t h e ex cep ti o n s o f cert ai n i n fo rm at i o n wh i ch t h e [ a p p l i cab l e l aw] ex em p t s fro m d i s cl os u re,” an d t hat t h e l aw

9n o t wai v e t h e ri g h t s o f t h i rd p art i es wh o h ad an i n t eres t in co n fi d en t i al i n fo rm at i o n

t h at was s t at u to ri l y ex em p t ed fro m d i scl o s u re u nd er t h e Op en Reco rd s Act . Id

.

In ad d i t i o n t o rel y i n g o n Ha rr i s , th e Su prem e Co urt i n Bo wer s al so fo cu s ed o n

t h e p lai n l an g u ag e o f t h e Ge o r g i a Op en Reco rd s Act i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e

n o n d i s cl o s u re o f s tat u t o ri l y ex cep t ed i n fo r m at i o n i s m an dat o ry rat h er t h an

d i s cret i o n ary u n d er t he Act

. 2 65 Ga. at 2 4 8 -2 4 9 (1 ). In t h is reg ard

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

p o i n t ed o u t t h at

, as n o t e d s u p ra, t h e Op en Reco rd s A ct g ran ts s u p eri o r co u rt s

ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er act i on s b ro u g h t “ t o en fo rce co m p l i an ce” wi th t h e Act ’ s p ro v i s i o n s ,

OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 3 (a), an d t h e A c t a l l o w s fo r t h e i n s p ect i on o f p u b l i c reco rd s ,

“ e x cep t ” fo r t h o s e w h ich

, am o n g o t h er th i n g s , are “ s peci fi cal l y ex em p t ed ” b y l a w

fro m b ei n g d i s cl o sed

. (Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) O CGA § 50 -1 8 -7 1 (a). 3 Bo wer s , 2 6 5 Ga.

at 2 4 8 -2 4 9 (1 ). In l i g ht o f t h i s s t at u t o ry l an g u ag e an d fram ewo rk

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

co n cl u d ed t h at t he G eo rg ia Op en Reco rd s Act creat es a cau s e of act i on fo r p ri v at e

“ req u i res a c u st o di an t o ex pu n g e fro m t h e reco rd s an y i n fo rm at i o n t h at t h e p u b l i c d o es no t h av e a ri g h t t o s ee.”

3 Fo rm er OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 0 ( b )

, i n effect at t he t i m e o f t he Bo wer s d eci s i o n,

p ro v id ed t h at pu b l i c reco rd s were o p en fo r i ns p ect i o n “ ex cep t t h o s e wh i ch b y o rd er

o f a co u rt o f t h i s s t at e o r b y l aw are p ro h ib i ted o r s p eci fi cal ly ex em pt ed fro m b ei n g

o p en t o i ns p ect i o n b y t h e g en eral p u b l i c.” Cu rren t OCGA § 50 -1 8 -7 1 (a) p ro v i d es

t h at p ub l ic reco rd s are o p en fo r p u b l i c in s p ect i o n “ ex cep t t h o s e wh i ch by o rd er o f a

co u rt o f t h is s t at e o r b y

l aw are s p eci fi cal l y

ex em p t ed fro m d i s cl o s u re.”

10p art i es “ t o en j o i n d i s cl o s ure o f leg al l y p ro tect ed in fo rm at io n ,” 2 65 Ga. at 2 4 9 (1 ), an d

t h at i n j u n ct i ve rel ief i s ap p ro p ri at e i f t h e p u b l i c d o cu m en t s at i s s u e are n o t “ s u b ject

t o i ns p ect i o n an d d i s cl o s u re u n d er t h e Op en Reco rd s Act .” Id . at 2 4 9 (2 ).

B o w er s es t ab l i s h es t h at wh en a s t at e ag en cy p l an s t o d i s cl os e pu b li c reco rd s

t o t he p u b l i c i n res p o n se t o an Op en Reco rd s Act req u es t, a p ri v at e p art y i s en t i t l ed

t o bri ng s u it u nd er t h e Act an d en jo in t h e ag en cy fro m d i s cl o si n g th e reco rd s , i f t h e

reco rd s are n o t “ s u b

j ect t o i n s p ect i o n an d d is cl os u re,” i

. e., i f t hey fal l wi t h in a

s t at u to ry ex cep t i o n l i s t ed i n OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) o r an o t h er st at ut e. Bo wer s , 2 6 5

Ga. at 2 48 -2 4 9 (1 ), (2 ). In

ju n ct i v e rel i ef ag ai n s t t h e s t at e ag en cy is warran t ed b ecau s e,

as t h e Su p rem e Co u rt l at er rei t erat ed i n H o wa r d v. S

u m t er Fr ee Pr es s , 2 7 2 Ga. 5 2 1,

5 2 2 (1 ) (5 3 1 SE2 d 6 9 8 ) (2 0 0 0 ), a s t at e ag en cy ’ s “ co m p l i an ce wi t h t h e Act i s n ot

d i s cret i o n ary , bu t m an d at o ry .” See al s o Do e v. Bd

. o f Reg en t s o f Un i v. S ys t em o f Ga

. ,

2 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 4, 6 9 2 (4 ) (4 5 2 SE2 d 77 6 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (wh o l e co u rt ) (“ T h e O p en Reco rd s

Act req u i res [t h e Bo ard of Reg en t s ] t o p res erv e th e co n fi d en t i al i t y o f i n fo rm at i o n t h at

t h e p u bl i c d o es n o t h av e a ri g h t t o s ee.”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

“ It is ax io m at i c t h at t h i s C o u r t i s b o u n d b y t h e p reced en t o f t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt .” Di l l a r d v. B i s ho

p Ed d ie Lo n g M

i n i s t r ies

, 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p. 5 0 7

, 5 1 0 ( 3 ) ( 5 7 4

SE2 d 5 4 4 ) (2 0 0 2). Acco rd i n g l y , i n l i g h t of th e Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n Bo wer s ,

11t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ru l in g t h a t K S U had t h e d i s cret i o n t o rel eas e t h e res earch

co rres p o n d en ce i n res p o n s e to CFA’ s o p en reco rd req u es t

, ev en i f t h e F o u n d at i o n

b ro u gh t s u i t t o en

j o i n t h e d i s cl o s u re an d d em o n s t rat ed t h at t h e co rres p o n d en ce was

ex em p t fro m d i s cl o s u re u n d er OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 5 ) o r (3 6 ). R a t h er, p u rs u an t

t o t h e an al y s i s an d reas o ni n g o f t h e Bo wer s d eci s i o n , t h e Fo un d at io n was en t i t l ed to

en jo i n KSU fro m d i s cl o s i n g t h e res earch co rres p o n den ce t o t h e C F A, i f t h e

Fo u n d at i o n s h o w e d t h at t he co rres p o n d en ce fel l wi t h i n o n e o r bo t h o f t he res earch

ex cep t i o n s fo u nd i n t h e Op en Reco rd s Act

.

Becau s e t he t ri al co u rt erro n eo us l y co n cl u ded t h at KSU h ad t h e d i s cret i o n to

d i s cl os e t h e res earch co rres p o n d en ce t o CFA, t he t ri al co u rt n ev er ad d res s ed t h e

p art i es ’ arg u m e nt s reg ard i n g wh et her o r t o wh at ex t en t t he co rres p on d en ce fel l wi t h in

t h e r e s e arch ex cep t i on s co n t ai n ed in OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 5 ) o r (3 6 ).

Co n s eq u en t l y , we v acat e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s s u m m ary ju d g m en t ord er an d rem an d fo r t h e

t ri al c o u r t t o co n s id er i n t h e fi rs t i n s t an ce th e p art ies ’ arg u m en t s reg ard i n g t h e

ap p li cat io n o f on e o r b o t h of t h e res earch ex cep t i o n s t o t h e co rres p o n d en ce at i s s u e

i n th i s cas e. See H

a rr i s , 2 5 6 G a. at 3 02 (2 ) (rem an d in g cas e fo r t ri al co u rt t o co n s i d er

wh et h er reco rd s at i s s u e fel l wi th i n a st at u t o ry ex cep t io n t o d i s cl o s ure). See g en eral l y

Co mmu n i t

y Ren ewa l v. Ni

x , 2 7 9 Ga. 8 4 0

, 8 4 2 (2 ) (6 2 1 SE2 d 72 2 ) (2 00 5 ) (d ecl i n i n g

12t o ap p l y t h e ri gh t -fo r-an y -reas on ru l e, wh ere t ri al co u rt ’ s s u m m ary ju d g m en t ru l i n g

was b as ed up o n an erro neo u s l eg al t h eo ry an d o th er i s s u es were l eft u n res o l v ed as a

res u l t o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ru l i n g ); Ci t y o f Ga in es vi l l e v. Do d

d

, 2 7 5 G a. 8 3 4, 8 3 8 -8 3 9

(5 7 3 S E 2 d 3 6 9 ) (2 0 0 2) (ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e d i s cret i on t o v acat e a tri al co urt ’ s

s u m m ary ju d g m e n t o rd er an d rem an d fo r t h e tri al co urt t o co n s i der al t ern at i v e

arg u m en t s i n t he fi rs t i n s t an ce).

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e rema n d ed wi t h d ir ect io n

. M

cMi l l i a n a n d M

er ci er

,

JJ., co n cu r

.

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