Disabilities group sues over open records request

A disabilities rights group wants the Conejos County Sheriff’s Department to pay thousands of dollars in legal bills it racked up while pursuing an open records request.

The Alamosa Valley Courier reported last week the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition spent at least $38,000 to get sheriff’s data on services it offers detainees and inmates who hearing-impaired.

The coalition got the data in May 2012, about four months after requesting it.

The group claims the sheriff’s department violated state open records and criminal justice records laws because the sheriff didn’t’ turn over the records after a judge held a hearing on the issue in July.

Conejos County Attorney Stefan Walter Atencio says the lawsuit is an attempt to get tens of thousands of dollars from the department.