Opinion ID: 1354043
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: SCDSS Internal Investigation

Text: The trial court held that any material and information concerning the internal investigation of Wilson conducted by SCDSS was not subject to disclosure under the exemptions of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) relating to information of a personal nature and correspondence or work product of legal counsel. Appellants contend that the court erred in failing to review the requested file, determine which material in the file is exempt and non-exempt, and requiring disclosure of the nonexempt material. FOIA provides the right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body. S.C.Code Ann. § 30-4-30(a) (Supp.1994). However, the FOIA enumerates certain exemptions, including information of a personal nature and work product of legal counsel. S.C.Code Ann. § 30-4-40(a)(2) and (a)(7) (1991 and Supp.1994). Moreover, those records which are required by law to be closed to the public are not subject to the FOIA. S.C.Code Ann. § 30-4-20(c) (1991); S.C.Code Ann. § 30-4-40(4) (1991). Notwithstanding, these exemptions for the FOIA do not provide a blanket prohibition of disclosure of the entire record containing exempt material. Rather, the exempt and nonexempt material shall be separated and the nonexempt material disclosed. See Newberry Publ. v. Newberry Co. Comm'n A.D.A., 308 S.C. 352, 417 S.E.2d 870 (1992). Here, the record fails to show that the trial court was asked to review the SCDSS investigatory file and separate the exempt and nonexempt material. Accordingly, we must affirm the trial court on this issue. Conran v. Joe Jenkins Realty, Inc., 263 S.C. 332, 210 S.E.2d 309 (1974) (Appellant bears burden of providing sufficient record to support his argument). However, Appellants are not precluded from reappearing before the trial court and requesting that it conduct a review in accordance with Newberry. AFFIRMED. FINNEY, C.J., and MOORE and BURNETT, JJ., and GEORGE T. GREGORY, Jr., Acting Associate Justice, concur.