 |
| Oren Paris III said he knew the scheme was bad, but pled not-guilty until the last minute. Now he is in prison. |
Attorneys still seeking release of Ecclesia documents under FOIA
Parsons is represented by attorneys Chip Sexton and Joey McCutchen.
Arkansas legislators gave more than $700,000 of taxpayers' money from the Improvement Fund to the Springdale school.
Originally filed Feb. 9, 2017, the lawsuit contends private organizations receiving public money, engaging in activities of public interest, carrying on work intertwined with a government body or receiving grants to promote economic development are subject to the requirements of the state Freedom of Information Act.
Ecclesia has contended the mere receipt of state money doesn't make the private school subject to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Ecclesia also argued it's a church and nonprofit corporation and, therefore, entitled to constitutional protection.
The amended complaint drops a claim the grant money given to Ecclesia constituted the giving of state money to a religious institution in violation of the state Constitution.
An attorney for Ecclesia College in June turned over some records related to how state money the college received from the General Improvement Fund was used. But, Sexton said Tuesday, those documents weren't what they asked for.
The amended complaint filed Monday says Ecclesia hasn't released the documents requested by Parsons in early 2017 although the time allowed by law to respond has long since expired.
"As of the present date, Ecclesia has failed and refused and continues to fail and refuse to produce such documents and has made clear in pleadings filed in this that it is not going to produce such documents without an order from this court," according to the amended complaint.
The complaint asks a hearing be set within seven days and the court order Ecclesia to release the requested documents.
Parsons and his lawyers are asking Ecclesia be ordered to pay back all the grant money it received, arguing the money wasn't used for the stated purpose.
"The funds were not used for the acquisition of land for student housing, nor were they used to build student housing," according to the complaint. "Instead, the funds were used to pay kickbacks to legislators, to purchase tracts of land which defendant promptly encumbered to acquire additional funds for the personal benefit of its officers, agents and employees."
The state Department of Finance and Administration also has asked state Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's office to sue Ecclesia College to reclaim at least $600,000 of kickback-tainted grants the college received from the General Improvement Fund.
