Justices hear UA dorm records case

Contractors group wants building firm to divulge construction costs

— Arkansas Supreme Court justices expressed some skepticism Thursday that a group of building contractors could sue a private company to gain access to records related to the construction of a $35 million University of Arkansas dormitory.

Contractors for Public Protection Association wants Nabholz Construction Corp. to turnover receipts and other records detailing the cost of building the Fayetteville campus complex known as the Northwest Quad. The contractors' group contends that the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act requires Nabholz to turn over the documents, and Pulaski County Circuit Judge Marion Humphrey agreed in a ruling in March.

But Nabholz appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing in partthat it's not subject to the state open-records law.

Justices heard from both sides in oral arguments Thursday, focusing most of their questions on why the contractors' group didn't sue the university, or at least make it a party to the lawsuit.

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Subscribers can read the story here on ArkansasOnline.

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