Metairie - The judge assigned the a lawsuit filed against WVUE and The Times Picayune recused himself from the case Wednesday. The parish is asking the court to exempt it from a state public records disclosure law.
FOX 8 reporters Val Bracy and Lee Zurik requested documents relating to Chief Administrative Officer Tim Whitmer's private business dealings with the parish.
One of Whitmer's companies is the focus federal and state ethics board investigations because of a secret deal of fee splitting on commissions for an employee insurance contract with the West Jefferson Medical Center.
The parish says the requested documents should not be turned over to the media because they are the subject of a criminal investigation.
Chief Judge Henry Sullivan stepped down because his wife is a member of the hospital board, although she was not on the board when the contract was awarded.
The case has been assigned to Judge Lee Faulkner.
