ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) >> A legal services group with federal oversight responsibility to protect disabled New Yorkers has sued the state agency established to investigate abuse cases, alleging state officials are illegally denying access to information.
Disability Rights New York says the Justice Center established 18 months ago by the Cuomo administration has consistently refused full access to records and reports about the abuse of several individuals in state care. One of them died.
The group says it’s entitled to the full investigative reports by federal laws that trump the state laws cited in denying the records.
Information at issue in the federal lawsuit includes identities of people filing abuse complaints, as well as the accused state or nonprofit workers.
A Justice Center spokeswoman says the legal group is “simply incorrect” about the laws.
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