Gibson v. Ada County

**Gibson v. Ada County: Public Records and Workplace Investigations** The Gibson family requested access to records from an Ada County workplace investigation through Idaho's public records law. Ada County refused to provide the documents, claiming they were exempt from public disclosure because they were part of an ongoing or completed investigation. The Gibsons challenged this decision in court, arguing they had the right to see these investigatory records. However, both the trial court and the Idaho Supreme Court sided with Ada County. The courts ruled that the county was legally allowed to keep the investigation records private under Idaho law, which protects certain investigatory materials from public disclosure. **What this means for workers:** When your employer conducts a workplace investigation, those records may not be accessible to you or others through public records requests, even if you work for a government agency. Idaho law allows employers to keep investigatory files confidential to protect the integrity of investigations and the privacy of those involved. If you're involved in a workplace investigation and want access to related documents, you may need to pursue other legal avenues beyond public records requests, as these materials are often protected from disclosure.