Dooley v. Davidson, s. S90A0821
| Decision Date | 29 November 1990 |
| Docket Number | S90X0822,Nos. S90A0821,s. S90A0821 |
| Citation | 397 S.E.2d 922,260 Ga. 577 |
| Parties | , 64 Ed. Law Rep. 276, 18 Media L. Rep. 1512 DOOLEY et al. v. DAVIDSON et al. (Two Cases) |
| Court | Georgia Supreme Court |
Nicholas P. Chilivis, Anthony L. Cochran, Chilivis & Grindler, Terrence B. Adamson, Peter C. Canfield, James A. Demetry, Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, Atlanta, for Dooley, et al.
Hunter Hughes, Rogers & Hardin, James A. Demetry, Michael J. Bowers, Atty. Gen., Atlanta, for Davidson, et al.
George P. Shingler, Asst. Atty. Gen., Atlanta, for appellees.
Two newspapers made a request for documents to the University of Georgia, pursuant to the Open Records Act, OCGA § 50-18-70(a), as follows:
This letter is a formal request, made individually and on behalf of The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, to inspect and/or copy all records and documents associated with the income of all University of Georgia coaches, particularly that of head basketball coach Hugh Durham. NCAA rules require that job-related outside income be reported to the university president.
The material should include but not be limited to: Information regarding income from shoe contracts, camps, endorsements, TV-radio shows and speaking engagements.
Two coaches and the athletic director of the university filed a complaint for declaratory judgment to determine whether certain records, in their possession and relating to their income, were subject to the Open Records Act. The coaches submitted 13 documents to the trial court for in camera inspection. The trial court found that eight of the 13 documents were subject to the Open Records Act. Both sides appealed.
(a) In Macon Telegraph Publishing Co. v. Board of Regents, 256 Ga. 443, 350 S.E.2d 23 (1986), we held that certain records of the Athletic Association of the University of Georgia are subject to the Open Records Act:
Because [the Chairman of the Board of the Athletic Association], by virtue of his position as President of the University of Georgia, is charged with controlling the intercollegiate sports program at the University, and because the maintenance of documents relating to the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of the intercollegiate sports program is an integral part thereof, we conclude that, regardless of whether the documents are prepared by employees of a private Athletic Association or by [its treasurer], it is clear that they are "documents, papers, and records prepared and maintained in the course of the operation of a public office," and are therefore "public records" under the Open Records Act. [Id. at 445, 350 S.E.2d 23.]
The issue before us is whether the records in question are "public records" under OCGA § 50-18-70(a), which provides as follows:
As used in this article, the term "public record" shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency.
(b) It follows that each of the 13 documents before us must be reviewed to determine whether it is material "prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation" either of the university or of the association. A document that is "prepared and maintained or received in the course of [such] operation" is a "public record," and must be offered for inspection and copying. A document that is not so "prepared and maintained or received in the course of [such] operation" is not a "public record," and is not subject to the requirements of the Open Records Act.
The statutory terms, "in the operation of a public office or agency," must be considered in the light of what the record shows concerning the operation of the university and the association. The record discloses that:
(a) The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires of all employees the submission of written reports of "activities" (as defined), and "approval of the President." 1
(b) Additionally, contracts between the association and the coaches are contingent upon compliance with all requirements of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2
(c) The constitution of the NCAA requires each coach to report annually "all athletically related income from sources outside the institution ... through the director of athletics to the institution's chief executive officer." 3
(d) The constitution of the NCAA also requires that no coach shall accept any compensation from the manufacturer of any athletic equipment in exchange for the use of its equipment without prior approval of "the institutions's chief executive officer." 4
(e) The university instituted a written policy in 1985 requiring the review of personal contracts relative to athletic equipment. 5
(a) By the promulgation of these regulations, the Board of Regents has regulated the "course of the operation" of the university and of the association in such manner as to limit the acceptance by employees of compensation from sources other than their public emoluments, and to require that its employees report income received from specified sources. The university has required that its athletic director review certain contracts relative to the donation of athletic equipment and by the contractual requirement that its employees comply with the rules of the NCAA.
(b) It follows that:
(i) Records in the hands of employees that pertain to the receipt of athletic equipment and apparel are records that relate to the operation of the university and of the association, and are records "received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency."
(ii) Records of outside income received in connection with the operation of the university and the association are records "received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency."
(iii) Records in the hands of employees that have been prepared for the purpose of complying with reporting requirements relating to specified income are records "prepared and maintained ... in the course of the operation of a public office or agency."
Conversely, records in the hands of employees that may reflect the receipt of income from outside sources are not "public records" if the payment to an employee is based upon an activity of the employee that is not conducted "in the course of the operation of a public office or agency." 66.
With this understanding of the Open Records Act and the requirements of the Board of Regents and the university, it becomes necessary to examine each one of the documents in issue to determine whether it is a "public record." The documents fall within six categories.
(a) Documents 1, 2, and 3 are the reports prepared by the coaches in preparation of their annual reports of outside income to the chief executive of the university. While the reports themselves were not submitted to the president, each was "prepared and maintained" for the purpose of performing a duty imposed upon the coaches "in the course of the operation of a public office or agency." Hence they are "public records," and must be disclosed.
(b) Documents 5, 6, 7, 10, and 13 are contracts between individual coaches and suppliers of sports equipment or apparel. The contracts provide that such equipment and apparel will be furnished to university athletes, and, in some contracts, provide that the coach require or encourage university athletes to use or wear these articles. Some of these contracts are contracts that are required to be reviewed by the athletic director pursuant to regulations of the university. Each contract directly affects the performance of official duties by the coach, and otherwise relates directly to the activities of the university and of the association. Because they are documents "received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency," they are "public records," and must be disclosed.
(c) Documents 8 and 9 are letters relating to compensation of coaches for participating in radio programs that are broadcast before and after athletic events. The evidence indicates that the broadcasts are sold to radio stations as part of the university's exclusive rights to broadcast university football and basketball games, and are identified to listeners as being a part of the "Georgia Bulldog Network." The broadcaster is the university; the subjects of the broadcasts are the athletic events of the university; and the purpose of the broadcast is to foster the athletic programs of the university. Because these documents relate to an official function of the university, they are documents that are "prepared and maintained ... in the course of the operation of a public office or agency." Hence, they are "public records," and must be disclosed.
(d) Document 11 concerns financial information relative to radio and television broadcasts. The evidence indicates that the television shows are produced and videotaped at university facilities and are paid for by the association. These promotional activities of the university are copyrighted in the name of the "Athletic Association/University of Georgia." Because this document relates to an official function of the university, it is "prepared and maintained ... in the course of the operation of a public office or agency." Hence, it is a "public record," and must be disclosed.
(e) Document 4 is styled "Consultant Appearance Agreement." It obligates the coach only to make speaking appearances on behalf of a manufacturer. Standing alone, a contract to speak on behalf of a third party--unconnected with and not in conflict with the performance of an official duty--relates to a private activity, and is not a "public record." Hence, it is not a "public record," and need not be disclosed.
(f) Document 12 is a contract between a coach and the producer of a radio network, in which the coach agrees to provide commentary during the broadcast of certain...
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