Former Oregon first lady will file for bankruptcy

PORTLAND — A former Oregon first lady will file for bankruptcy protection after accumulating about $125,000 in debts and penalties during a legal battle with The Oregonian/OregonLive newspaper, her lawyer said.

Former first lady Cylvia Hayes’ lawyer, Eli Stutsman, said in a court filing Wednesday that she plans to file for bankruptcy this week.

Hayes, who was Gov. John Kitzhaber’s fiance when he was elected to his third term in 2010, also faces a potential six-figure fine for violating state ethics laws, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Hayes and the newspaper got into a legal battle after it submitted a public records request in 2014 for her emails for an investigation into her consulting contracts.

At the time, Hayes argued that she was not subject to public records laws.

Hayes is expected to drop an appeal challenging the $125,000 she was ordered to pay the newspaper for its legal fees since the bankruptcy could shield her from paying the full legal costs.

“Appellant will soon file for bankruptcy protection and this court’s decision, whether affirming or reversing, will not alter appellant’s decision to file for bankruptcy protection,” Stutsman wrote in his motion. “Either way, win or lose on appeal, appellant will soon seek bankruptcy protection and there is no need or benefit for any party or the court to incur further time on this matter.”