In the matter of Jared Kofsky and ABC News v Butler Township, OOR Docket No.: AP 2024-1982 (8/29/2024), various records were requested relating to the rally on July 13, 2024, involving the shooting of Donald Trump. Butler Township was
PA Right to Know Law Blog
Providing highlights and insights about the PA Right to Know Law and decisions of the Office of Open Records as well as court opinions
The PA Right to Know Law Blog, published by Francis G.X. Pileggi, focuses on issues related to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL), including public access to government records, exemptions from disclosure, and legal interpretations of transparency statutes. The blog covers case law developments, administrative decisions by the Office of Open Records, and court rulings affecting public records requests. It addresses topics such as exemptions for law enforcement records, identity verification for requesters, and the application of privileges like attorney-client and work-product doctrines in the context of RTKL. The blog also discusses procedural aspects of appeals and the balance between public interest and confidentiality under Pennsylvania law.
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Latest from PA Right to Know Law Blog
REQUEST UNDER THE RTKL DENIED WHERE THE REQUESTER DID NOT CONFIRM IDENTITY
In the matter of Frank Curry and Foiabuddy, OOR Docket No.: AP 2024-1311 (June 20, 2024), the OOR determined that the South Western School District did not have a duty to fulfill an online request seeking IT related information…
Ammunition Bought by a Sheriff’s Office Was Not Exempt Under The RTKL
In the matter of Tom Lisi and LNP Media Group, OOR Docket No.: AP 2024-1269 (June 14, 2024), Lancaster County argued that the disclosure of the type and amount of ammunition bought by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office would threaten individual…
Office of Open Records Makes Final Determination Requiring Disclosure
In the matter of Fein v. Chester County, OOR Docket No.: AP 2023-2043 (Sept. 26, 2023), the Office of Open Records (“OOR”) considered an appeal from the denial by Chester County of a request to provide unredacted copies of absentee-ballot…
Court Bars Access to Privileged Communications Under RTKL
The Delaware County Court of Common Pleas recently affirmed a Determination of the Office of Open Records (OOR) to withhold documents that the court held were subject to the attorney/client privilege and the work-product doctrine. See Cortes v. Middletown Township,…
Decision Clarifies Requirements for Affidavit of RTK Officers
A recent decision is noteworthy for clarifying why the affidavit of a RTK Officer was not sufficient to carry the burden of the township to demonstrate an exemption based on a non-criminal investigation. In Middletown Township v. Cortes and Energy…
Recent OOR Determination Clarifies Appeal Deadline
In the recent OOR determination in the matter of Zaid v. Upland Borough, OOR Dkt. AP 2021-2961 (Dec. 29, 2021), an appeal was rejected as premature in light of not taking into account the days that the government agency was…
Commonwealth Court Imposes Fines for Bad Faith Response to PA RTKL Request
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court recently imposed fines for the bad faith response to a right-to-know request under the PA RTK law in the case styled: California University of Pennsylvania v. Bradshaw, 1491 C.D. 2018. The court also imposed the maximum…
OOR: Records Relating To The Investigation And Tracking Of Personal Protective Equipment Not Confidential Under The DPCL.
This synopsis was prepared by Pennsylvania attorney Catherine Olanich Raymond.
In a Final Determination entered on June 24, 2021, the OOR found that the Pennsylvania Department of Health (“DOH”) did not successfully prove that “records related to the investigation and…
OOR: Information About Officers’ Time-Off Request Protected From Disclosure Under The RTKL By The Constitutional Right of Privacy
This synopsis was prepared by Pennsylvania attorney Catherine Olanich Raymond.
In a Final Determination entered on June 4, 2021, the OOR found that a request for “the names, ranks, and badge numbers” of all SEPTA police officers who asked for…