FSU Wants NCAA's Help In Records Release

((HT: Tallahassee Democrat/Jim Lamar))

Florida State general counsel Betty Steffens asked the NCAA to assist the university in releasing documents so that FSU can comply with Florida's open-records laws.

Steffens' request specifically asks the NCAA to make available documents stored on a "custodial website" in a format in which FSU can fulfill public-records requests originating from the university's academic-misconduct case.

Rachel Fugate, an attorney with the Thomas, LoCicero and Bralow law firm, made an amended public-records request on July 1 for access to documents as part of a lawsuit filed by more than a dozen media outlets in Florida accusing the NCAA, FSU and the GrayRobinson law firm of withholding documents from public access.

The NCAA has yet to respond to Fugate's amended request.

Steffens' letter, dated July 8, asks the NCAA to "please immediately either provide FSU with copies of the documents on the site or make accommodations in order that documents maintained on the website may be downloaded and printed so that FSU can produce its own hard copies … and thereafter provide to the plaintiffs copies of the redacted records or assert required exemptions as provided by law."

Steffens also issued a warning to NCAA general counsel Elsa Cole for a quick response to her request.

"As far as FSU is concerned, this matter is now urgent," Steffens wrote. "Accordingly, we would request that you provide a response by Friday, July 10, 2009. Please be advised that failure to comply makes you vulnerable to remedies pursuant to Chapter 119."

Stacey Osborn, the NCAA's associate director for public and media relations, said the NCAA has received the letter from Steffens and "will respond once we have had a chance to review it."