Newberry Publishing Co. v. Newberry County Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse

Harwell, Chief Justice:

Appellant Newberry Publishing Co., Inc., d/b/a The New-berry Observer (Observer), initiated this action pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 1 seeking the disclosure of a criminal investigative report prepared by respondent South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The trial judge denied the Observer access to any portion of the report. We reverse.

I. FACTS

The Observer commenced this action against Newberry County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Commission) seeking access to a report prepared by SLED and in the possession of the…