La. Insurance Commissioner Will Release E-Mails Under Judge’s Order

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Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says he will “instantly” release e-mails at the center of a public records dispute involving the state’s insurer of last resort if a judge decides that he must.

Donelon has been in a fight for over a year with Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot, who is auditing Donelon’s agency and the state-backed Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Theriot wants access to internal e-mails that Donelon says he cannot release, partly because of concerns that it would violate agreements the department has with private insurance firms.

Donelon, who filed a lawsuit over the matter, said that he won’t appeal if the judge hearing the case rules in Theriot’s favor. He said the judge’s ruling against him would essentially give him protection from legal liability if he releases the documents and gets sued for it.

State District Judge Todd Hernandez of Baton Rouge has issued a schedule for motions and other pretrial affairs that runs through the end of June.

Both Donelon and Theriot testified April 1 at a meeting of the House and Senate’s insurance committees.