Is the nonprofit Northside Hospital Inc. subject to the state’s open records law?
The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments on the high-profile case, which involves Northside’s rejection of requests for information about financial documents and other matters.
Attorney Peter Canfield argued that Northside – a financially successful hospital system based in Atlanta – is subject to the Georgia Open Records Act because it was created by a public hospital authority, which is a government entity, and that it operates solely on the authority’s behalf.
The outcome of the legal battle may have a major effect on the Georgia hospital industry, because Northside’s corporate structure resembles many others in the state.