The News & Observer and nine other North Carolina news organizations sued Gov. Mike Easley on Monday over his administration’s deletion of e-mail, which they say violates the state’s Public Records Law.

The news media coalition accuses Easley’s administration of “the systematic deletion, destruction or concealment of e-mail messages sent from or received by the Governor’s Office” in violation of the law, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Wake County Superior Court.