In Defense of Animals Wins Suit Against OHSU
Court rules high fees for documents violate OR public records law

Portland, OR - Nearly four years after filing a law suit against Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) over a public document request, In Defense of Animals (IDA) wins the case in the Oregon Court of Appeals which ruled the university set fees too high for primate records. OHSU originally attempted to charge $12,585 for the documents that included daily health records, heath histories and behavior records for monkeys at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. Later they raised their estimate to $151,000, claiming staff required to process request make $86 and $39 per hour. The court concluded that both fee estimates were excessive and assessed incorrectly.

"The Court of Appeals has stuck a blow for public accountability and governmental transparency," stated Dave Bahr, attorney specializing in public records law and representing IDA. "The judges saw this case for what it truly is; a bureaucratic ruse to block access to public information by charging extortionately high fees as a means to keep secret information which should be available for the public's review."

"This is not just a victory for monkeys, but also a victory for public access to public information," said Matt Rossell, a former OHSU Primate Technician now working for In Defense of Animals. "Oregonians have a legal right to know how their taxes are being spent behind locked lab doors. Unfortunately, OHSU has effectively kept the public in the dark since we filled this request in August 1998, almost seven years ago."

This was the second time In Defense of Animals has been forced to file suit to get OHSU to comply with the Oregon Public Records Act and release documents requested from the Oregon National Primate Research Center. The first suit succeeded to gain access to videotapes recorded by Martha Neuringer¹s lab of maternally deprived monkeys.

The Oregon Judicial Department Appellate Court decision can be viewed at: http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/A120714.htm#FNT7