Court: Animal lab locations are public record

Fla. appeals court rules that locations of animal research labs are open to public disclosure

Author:
Published On: Feb 26 2013 05:08:59 PM EST

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — An appellate court has ruled that the University of Florida cannot blackout the locations of its animal research labs in response to a public records request.

A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled unanimously on Tuesday.

Florida animal-rights activist Camille Marino had sought records on primates used in research. The university "obscured the physical housing location" of the animals. It argued the research made the labs vulnerable to physical threats.

Marino sued. A lower-court judge agreed that physical locations were exempt as part of "security system plans."

But the appellate court said exemptions covering the addresses of sensitive facilities did not specifically extend to such research labs.

The case is Marino v. University of Florida, No. 1D12-1688.

  • Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.