DENVER—KMGH-TV in Denver is fighting an effort by Colorado’s workers compensation insurer to withhold details about a golf trip to Pebble Beach, Calif.
KMGH says it requested the information after it found three board members of Pinnacol Assurance playing golf and having drinks and dinner at an incentive event May 12-15 meant for Pinnacol’s top-producing agents.
KMGH says Pinnacol has previously provided documents requested under the Colorado Open Records Act.
But Pinnacol says releasing documents concerning the trip could harm its competitiveness and invade agents’ privacy rights. It asked a Denver judge to block the documents’ release.
Board members for state-chartered Pinnacol are appointed by the governor. Pinnacol says it operates like a private insurer.
KMGH identified the board members as president Gary Johnson, ethics member Debra Lovejoy and Ryan Hettich. Board duties include oversight of Pinnacol executives. Also on the Pebble Beach trip was chief executive officer Ken Ross.
Pinnacol declined a request by KMGH to interview Johnson, Lovejoy and Hettich after the trip.
Gov. Bill Ritter declined to comment pending KMGH’s broadcast of its investigation, which was to air Monday night.
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