UM must pay newspaper's attorney fees

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A judge who already found that the University of Missouri violated the state open records law by withholding information sought by The Kansas City Star has now ordered it to pay the newspaper's attorney fees.

Boone County Circuit Judge Frank Conley ruled Friday that the university violated the Sunshine Law on purpose and thus said it must pay The Star $75,000 for attorney's fees, plus $2,806 in expenses.

The judge ruled earlier that university officials improperly withheld more than 500 internal audits that the newspaper had requested four years ago.

The only remaining question was whether there was a purposeful violation of the law, which would allow The Star to recover the costs of bringing the lawsuit.

The Star had asked for $126,726 in attorney's fees and the judge's ruling did not state the reason for awarding the lower amount.