Sheehan Reiterates Desire for 38 Studios Court Documents

In anticipation of a meeting of the Commerce Corporation board of directors, Sen. James C. Sheehan has written to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who chairs the board, to urge that “any settlement proposal will not include the sealing of depositions or exhibits from the public view.”

The Commerce Corporation board was scheduled to meet today regarding the 38 Studios lawsuit and the negotiations by the state’s attorney in the lawsuit regarding the potential of settling that suit.

“While it is important that that the state recover money lost as a result of the failure and bankruptcy of 38 Studios, I believe it to be equally important, if not more so, that the public receive a full accounting of what transpired to bring about this turn of events,” Sheehan wrote (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown). 

Sheehan is also Chairman of the Senate Committee on Oversight.

On behalf of the Senate committee, Sheehan has been attempting to obtain copies of various court documents and exhibits relative to the 38 Studios lawsuit. In late February, he wrote to the state’s attorney in the suit seeking the materials but was refused because certain defendants to the litigation filed a motion for protective order.

Sheehan expressed his disappointment at the time, saying that the documents were necessary to complete the public record and to help policymakers avoid a recurrence of the 38 Studios deal.

In his most recent letter to the governor, Sheehan repeated that sentiment, writing that “the public has a right to know all the facts in this case. Any attempt to shield the truth for a slightly higher settlement offer, for instance, would be contrary to the public interest.”