Jefferson DA charges grieving father $18,000 for public records, leading to lawsuit

by Greg LaRose, Louisiana Illuminator, January 24, 2024

Attorneys for a Missouri man say they have filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Parish’s district attorney, who wants him to pay more than $18,000 for copies of investigation records related to his son’s death nearly seven years ago. Since then, the grieving father has pursued justice with little to no help from police or prosecutors.

Despite the federal convictions, Bob Arthur has been unable to convince Jefferson Parish DA Paul Connick to pursue a homicide case against Schenck or Berry or turn the matter over to a grand jury. The father has blasted the work of sheriff’s investigators, who he says fumbled their work from the very start.

The agency responded that it had more than 37,000 pages of records that would cost Bob Arthur $18,535 to receive on paper or $5,560 in a digital format.

“These charges are egregious because the Public Records Act is clear that public bodies cannot charge for labor in providing public documents to taxpayers,” Tulane Clinic attorney Melia Cerrato said. “Making public records accessible is a core function of government offices. Low-cost or reasonable fees promote transparency and ensure equal access to information, empowering individuals to hold elected officials accountable.”