FOIA Request to County of Ford (KS) regarding contingency fee contracts on June 18, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the County of Ford in Kansas by SW Kansas News on June 18, 2025. The request seeks detailed information concerning contingency fee contracts under the Kansas Open Records Act § 45-215 et seq., with a preference for receiving the records in electronic format.
The request specifically asks for all contingency fee agreements between Ford County and any external attorneys or law firms that have been in effect during the last twelve months. Additionally, it seeks engagement agreements or contracts between Ford County and specific law firms, including Sher Edling LLP, Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss PLLC, and Rex Sharp or Sharp Law LLP, also within the past year.
The requestor emphasizes their role as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. They highlight that access to these public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. Furthermore, they indicate eligibility for a fee waiver due to their status as a member of the media.
This FOIA request is sent on behalf of SW Kansas News and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
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