JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Taxpayers will be $1.3 million poorer after Gov. Rick Scott's office settles several public records lawsuits. The costs have public records advocates fuming.
The property of a law office became the subject of a dispute between attorney Steve Andrews and the state.
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The law office is soon going to be a museum and is located behind the home of former Gov. Leroy Collins.
Andrews supported Scott's opponents and after Scott was elected, a dispute erupted over who had rights to buy the law firm property, Andrews or the state.
In requests for public records, Andrews discovered Scott had two non-state email accounts used for state business. Lawsuits followed.
"One of the most important rights in the Florida Constitution is the right to public records," said Andrews. "In any form. Private emails, cell phones."
A year later, the state is settling with Andrews for $700,000. A $120,000 check was ordered by the Governor's Office on Monday. The exchange is set for 10 a.m. Friday.
Documents also show the governor is paying $304,000 to outside law firms to defend himself against Andrews and against media outlets in a separate case.
Media attorney Carol Locicero said it's a shame taxpayers are on the hook for the governor's actions.
"Transparency starts with the right attitude and it's really not been a priority of this Governor's Office," said Locicero, board member of the First Amendment Foundation.
In agreeing to settle the case, Andrews is giving up $1.2 million in legal fees.
Public records requests made of the governor often take a month or more to fulfill. Under a new policy, the office posts every response to a records request online.