Court Rules Against Former Howard County Coroner

The Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday former Howard County Coroner Frank Flaspohler deliberately violated the state’s Sunshine Law. The case stems from the suicide of Kenneth Suttner of Glasgow. His inquest concluded that the Glasgow School District was partly responsible for his death. The district asked for a copy of the inquest, and Flaspohler refused, saying it was part of an investigative record. The court ruled that since both the inquest was an open hearing, and that Flaspohler had discussed the inquest openly on an HBO program, that the report was not closed. The court also ruled that Flaspohler must pay the district’s attorney’s fees.