A group that focuses on fighting human rights violations against inmates has sued the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections, saying the agency is in violation of the state's open records law.

The Southern Center for Human Rights and the mother of a Georgia inmate who was killed by other inmates filed the suit Thursday against Commissioner Brian Owens in Fulton County Superior Court. RaHonda MacClain's son, Damion, died at Hays State Prison in Trion in December.

The complaint says the Department of Corrections failed to produce requested public records and demanded "exorbitant and unreasonable" fees to produce public documents.

A department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Thursday.

Tags: Southern Center for Human Rights, prisoners, inmates, Georgia Department of Corrections, Brian Owens, open records, Hays State Prison, open records law, inmate deaths