Consumer Credit Research Foundation v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Court of Appeals of Georgia

Consumer Credit Research Foundation v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

818 S.E.2d 260, 347 Ga. App. 188

CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia

DecidedAugust 15, 2018

DocketA17A0620

StatusPublished

This text of 818 S.E.2d 260 (Consumer Credit Research Foundation v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Consumer Credit Research Foundation v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, 818 S.E.2d 260, 347 Ga. App. 188 (Ga. Ct. App. 2018).

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Opinion

Barnes, Presiding Judge.

*188 In Consumer Credit Research Foundation v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. System of Ga. , 341 Ga.App. 323 , 800 S.E.2d 24 (2017), this Court construed Bowers v. Shelton , 265 Ga. 247 , 453 S.E.2d 741 (1995) to mean that state agencies do not have the discretion to publicly release records covered by any of the specific exemptions to disclosure listed in OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) of Georgia's Open Records Act (the "Act"). Based on that construction of Bowers , this Court vacated the trial court's summary judgment order and remanded for the trial court to determine whether the records at issue in the case were covered by one or both of the specific statutory exemptions for materials related to academic research so as to bar disclosure of those records. Consumer Credit Research Foundation , 341 Ga.App. at 329 , 800 S.E.2d 24 . See OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) (35) and (36).

The Supreme Court of Georgia granted certiorari, disapproved of this Court's interpretation of Bowers , and reversed the judgment of this Court. Campaign for Accountability v. Consumer Credit Research Foundation , 303 Ga. 828 , 815 S.E.2d 841 (2018). The Supreme Court held that OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) of the Act does not bar a state agency from publicly releasing records, unless the specific exemption listed in the statute that covers the records at issue expressly prohibits disclosure. Campaign for Accountability , 303 Ga. at 830-34 (2), 815 S.E.2d 841 . Because *189 the specific exemptions for materials related to academic research ( OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) (35) and (36) ) do not expressly prohibit disclosure, the Supreme Court held that the records at issue in this case are not subject to any prohibition against disclosure under the Act. Campaign for Accountability , 303 Ga. at 837-38 (4), 815 S.E.2d 841 .

Accordingly, in light of the Supreme Court's decision, we vacate our prior judgment, adopt the decision of the Supreme Court as our own, and affirm the trial court's summary judgment order.

Judgment affirmed.

McMillian and Mercier, JJ., concur.

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Barnes, Presiding Judge.

*188 In Consumer Credit Research Foundation v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. System of Ga. , 341 Ga.App. 323 , 800 S.E.2d 24 (2017), this Court construed Bowers v. Shelton , 265 Ga. 247 , 453 S.E.2d 741 (1995) to mean that state agencies do not have the discretion to publicly release records covered by any of the specific exemptions to disclosure listed in OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) of Georgia's Open Records Act (the "Act"). Based on that construction of Bowers , this Court vacated the trial court's summary judgment order and remanded for the trial court to determine whether the records at issue in the case were covered by one or both of the specific statutory exemptions for materials related to academic research so as to bar disclosure of those records. Consumer Credit Research Foundation , 341 Ga.App. at 329 , 800 S.E.2d 24 . See OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) (35) and (36).

The Supreme Court of Georgia granted certiorari, disapproved of this Court's interpretation of Bowers , and reversed the judgment of this Court. Campaign for Accountability v. Consumer Credit Research Foundation , 303 Ga. 828 , 815 S.E.2d 841 (2018). The Supreme Court held that OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) of the Act does not bar a state agency from publicly releasing records, unless the specific exemption listed in the statute that covers the records at issue expressly prohibits disclosure. Campaign for Accountability , 303 Ga. at 830-34 (2), 815 S.E.2d 841 . Because *189 the specific exemptions for materials related to academic research ( OCGA § 50-18-72 (a) (35) and (36) ) do not expressly prohibit disclosure, the Supreme Court held that the records at issue in this case are not subject to any prohibition against disclosure under the Act. Campaign for Accountability , 303 Ga. at 837-38 (4), 815 S.E.2d 841 .

Accordingly, in light of the Supreme Court's decision, we vacate our prior judgment, adopt the decision of the Supreme Court as our own, and affirm the trial court's summary judgment order.

Judgment affirmed.

McMillian and Mercier, JJ., concur.

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818 S.E.2d 260, 347 Ga. App. 188, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/consumer-credit-research-foundation-v-board-of-regents-of-the-university-gactapp-2018.

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