Glasgow schools, Howard County back in court next month
An attorney for the Glasgow School District said he hopes to get all the money back that was spent on a court case over records.
Judge Scott Hayes has scheduled a Feb. 7 hearing in the ongoing lawsuit over records used at a coroner’s inquest last year. The inquest delved into bullying at Glasgow schools and the workplace of Kenneth Suttner, which a jury said led to his suicide.
On Tuesday, the Western District Court of Appeals denied special prosecutor April Wilson’s request to keep certain records under seal. Hayes had ordered Wilson and the Howard County Sheriff’s Office hand over their reports used at the inquest to the Glasgow School District. Wilson claimed Hayes overstepped his authority in making the order, since the criminal case stemming from Suttner’s death is still under investigation.
Wilson said she was unable to comment on the appeals court decision since it did not give a reason for denial.
Thousands of taxpayer dollars have been spent on the case. The coroner’s office has spent $2,784.71 for legal help, according to county clerk Kathryn Harper. The office had not yet requested any money be spent on the case in 2018, Harper said, but she expected a report near the end of the month.
Thomas Mickes, attorney for Glasgow School District, did not know the exact amount he had been paid by the district for the case, but estimated it was around $40,000. Mickes told ABC 17 News that he planned on asking Hayes to order Howard County pay for the district’s legal bills, as well as sanction them for the delays in releasing the records.
