Some agencies now suing citizens, journalists who seek public records (AP/Columbus Dispatch)

[TexasTowelie]

5. I agree that it appears vindictive for the agencies to sue the people requesting information.

However, I'm also aware of the tactics that some of the requesters (particularly government watchdog groups) use maliciously (see my post below). In the case of state agencies in Texas if there are concerns about information requests then the agency contacts the attorney general's office for an opinion.

About a month ago I read an article about someone who made over 70 open record requests within the first half of this year in an apparent effort to bog down the city hall in their town. I think that we are under the impression that everyone who makes a request is doing so because they have an underlying public interest while some are pursuing vendettas instead. The solution is to separate legitimate requests from nuisance requests and charge reasonable expenses to those making the requests.