Opinion ID: 1748378
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: This appeal arises from the continuing efforts of Appellant, Central Kentucky News-Journal, to gain access to two confidential settlement agreements stemming from two separate lawsuits. Both suits were filed in Taylor Circuit Court by Katherine Moss, a former employee of Campbellsville High School and, at the time, a prospective employee of Taylor County High School. Moss first brought an action against the Board of Education of the Campbellsville Independent School District, its former Superintendent, Charles Vaughan, in his official capacity, and the former Principal of Campbellsville High School, Greg Chick, in both his official and individual capacities. Therein, Moss alleged that she was the victim of sexual harassment. Moss later filed suit against the Taylor County Board of Education, its Superintendent, Gary N. Seaborne, in his official capacity, and the Principal of the Taylor County High School, Gaylon Yarberry, in both his official and individual capacities. Therein, Moss alleged that she was wrongfully refused employment. After extensive discovery, the parties participated in private mediation involving both cases, and a settlement was reached. [1] In consideration of the settlement, the parties agreed that its terms would remain confidential. Thereafter, in an agreed order of dismissal, the Taylor County Circuit Court Judge, Doughlas George, dismissed the Complaints, sealed the terms of the dismissal and settlement, and ordered the parties to strictly adhere to the confidentiality provisions contained in the agreements. Following these settlements, Appellant filed written requests under the Kentucky Open Records Act with both school districts and sought copies of records with regard to the recent settlement in each case. In response, both school districts declined to produce any such records, citing the orders of the Taylor Circuit Court purporting to seal the terms of the dismissal and settlement and its order for the parties to strictly adhere to the confidentiality provisions contained in the agreements. In accordance with the Open Records Act, Appellant appealed to the Kentucky Attorney General. In a subsequent Open Records Decision, 07-ORD-110, the Attorney General opined that the settlement agreements were public records for purposes of the Act and must be disclosed to the public upon request unless they qualified for exclusion under one or more of the Act's exceptions. Nevertheless, because the Taylor Circuit Court entered an order sealing agreements and directing the parties to adhere to their confidentiality provisions, the Attorney General concluded that its authority was limited and the issue of public access to the agreements was one to be resolved by the court. Thereafter, Appellant moved to intervene in both actions in the Taylor Circuit Court so as to assert its right of access to the settlement agreements. In addition, Appellant sought to have the trial court unseal the terms of the agreements, vacate its orders regarding confidentiality, and to make any future hearings related to the case open to the public and press. The trial court, in an agreed order, consolidated the two cases in order to rule on Appellant's motions. After reviewing the settlement agreements in camera, the trial court denied Appellant's motion to intervene and held that it did not hold a strong and legitimate interest in the terms of the agreements so as to warrant its intervention. Seeking relief from that order, Appellant petitioned the Court of Appeals for a writ of mandamus. The Court of Appeals granted the petition in part and held that Courier-Journal and Louisville Times Co. v. Peers, 747 S.W.2d 125 (Ky.1988), established that Appellant, as a member of the news media, was entitled to intervene and participate in a hearing on the underlying merits of its claims. [2] Accordingly, the Court of Appeals directed the trial court to vacate its order denying Appellant's motion to intervene, to enter an order allowing it to intervene, to address the remainder of its requested relief, and to file the agreements into the record. For these reasons, the Court of Appeals concluded that it would be premature to order the trial court to vacate its orders sealing the agreements and directing the parties to adhere to their confidentiality provisions. On remand, the trial court entered an order placing the agreements into the record, [3] asked the parties if they had further evidence to present on the issue of whether the settlement agreements should be disclosed, and offered to take additional sworn testimony at a hearing, if the parties desired. Appellant advised the trial court that it had no additional evidence to present and requested the court to rule on the record. The original parties filed affidavits into the record, but objected to a further hearing. The trial court complied and addressed the issue of whether the documents should be unsealed. The court analyzed this Court's holding in Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington v. Noble, 92 S.W.3d 724 (Ky.2002) and the applicability of the Open Records Act's privacy exemption before concluding that neither the First Amendment nor the Open Records Act required the court to unseal the agreements for Appellant's access. Appellant again petitioned the Court of Appeals for a writ of mandamus that would direct the trial court to vacate its order and open the settlement agreements and any related documents for public view. The Court of Appeals, citing this Court's decision in Hoskins v. Maricle, 150 S.W.3d 1 (Ky.2004), denied the petition and, in a brief opinion, held that Appellant failed to show that the trial court was acting outside its jurisdiction or acting erroneously. It is from this order that Appellant now appeals as a matter of right pursuant to CR 76.36(7)(b). On appeal, Appellant asks this Court to reverse the Order of the Court of Appeals and order it to instruct the trial court to vacate its orders sealing the terms of the settlement agreements. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the Order of the Court of Appeals.