I love public records, I hate public records, I love public records ...

I have a love-hate relationship with public records.

Nothing can elate me more than opening my e-mail and finding a note from a government official with my public records request attached. Same goes for a packed manila envelope landing on my desk.

It doesn't matter if the missive or parcel contains pages and pages of documents or thousands of database records that would send most anyone else into bleary-eyed oblivion - the effect is the same. I'm suddenly giddy with anticipation like I've been turned loose in the shoe department at Macy's with carte blanche.

Pure heaven.

On the other hand, nothing can deflate me more than a public records request gone wrong. My colleagues, who have to listen to me rant and rave all too often about this subject, know this to be true. It happens more often than I care to say.

That's because asking for public records is like a game of chess. A request no matter how carefully worded can - when interpreted by the records holder - end up yielding results that omit crucial data.

Recognizing this, some government officials will call and ask questions and generally are helpful. They try to help you get what you're after. Others, not so much. For these officials, fulfilling public records is a high-stakes battle where your opponent's error is your good luck.

My recent request for information about lawsuits filed against Shreveport and Bossier City, got me just that - the lawsuits and any related data. It didn't get me the information about settlements that were reached by each agency that didn't involve a lawsuit.

I learned this after I e-mailed Shreveport City Attorney Terri Scott inquiring why a $400,000 payout to Angelina Garbarino wasn't listed in the lawsuit data she sent. Scott informed me that Garbarino's claim, involving alleged brutality by a Shreveport police officer, was settled without a filing a lawsuit. I had asked for lawsuit data, Scott reminded me.

Touché.

The end result is readers will have to wait a little longer to learn about how Shreveport and Bossier City are handling lawsuits, settlements or similar matters - and the resulting taxpayer dollar payouts.

I've asked for the settlement data from Scott and also from Bossier City Attorney Jimmy Hall. Haven't heard a peep from either yet but I'm confident those requests to be fulfilled soon.

I'll let you know when they come in - I'm sure it will be worth the wait.

(More information about the Angelina Garbarino case is included in the public service journalism tab above)