The Commonwealth Court has consistently frowned on agencies trying to submit new evidence (i.e., evidence not provided to the Office of Open Records) during a Right-to-Know Law appeal. As a general rule, Courts of Common Pleas have been more accepting of that practice. However, Courts of Common Pleas are not required to accept such evidence. … Continue reading Agencies Should Provide Evidence to the OOR
Yesterday in Hershey, I spoke to members of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania at their Newly Elected Officials Workshop & Fall Conference. Not surprisingly, I focused on Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. More specifically, I encouraged counties (the same would apply to other agencies) to post their most commonly requested records online. For example: County Budgets … Continue reading Speaking to the County Commissioners Association
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania recently asked me to contribute an article to the Fall 2019 issue of Pennsylvania County News, which I was happy to do. Here’s the complete text of that article. *** Balancing the public’s right to know with confidentiality laws and privacy interests Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) presumes that all … Continue reading Article for Pennsylvania County News
Late yesterday, I visited the University of Pittsburgh to speak to Prof. Doug Swanson’s journalism class about Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. It was a great discussion, and I appreciate the invitation very much. Here’s the PowerPoint presentation I used: University of Pittsburgh – Prof. Doug Swanson – Oct. 22, 2019 (PPTX) University of Pittsburgh – Prof. … Continue reading Speaking to Students at the University of Pittsburgh
Earlier today, I visited Lock Haven University to speak to Dr. Sharon Stringer’s journalism class about Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. It was a great discussion, and I appreciate the invitation very much. Here’s the PowerPoint presentation I used: Lock Haven University – Dr. Sharon Stringer – Oct. 22, 2019 (PPTX) Lock Haven University – Dr. Sharon … Continue reading Speaking to Students at Lock Haven University
Earlier today, I visited Marywood University to speak to the Wood Word staff about Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. It was a great discussion, and I appreciate the invitation by Dr. Lindsey Wotanis very much. Here’s the PowerPoint presentation I used: Marywood University – Wood Word / Dr. Lindsey Wotanis – Oct. 18, 2019 (PPTX) Marywood University … Continue reading Speaking to Students at Marywood University
Earlier this afternoon at the office of the Tyrone Daily Herald, I led a training session about Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. Many thanks to the Daily Herald for allowing me to visit. I appreciate it very much. Here’s the PowerPoint presentation I used: Tyrone Daily Herald – Oct. 17, 2019 (PPTX) Tyrone Daily Herald – Oct. … Continue reading Presentation at the Tyrone Daily Herald
Yesterday in Erie, I spoke to members of the Pennsylvania Library Association about Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. Many thanks to PaLA for the invitation. I very much appreciate it and loved having the chance to speak to librarians. When my family lived in Christiana, PA, in the 1980s, the wonderful Moores Memorial Library was right down … Continue reading Presentation to the Pennsylvania Library Association
The Office of Open Records’ Annual Training on Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law and Sunshine Act will take place on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 1:30 p.m. The free event has been approved for 2 CLEs for attorneys. You can join us in person at the Commonwealth Media Center in the State Capitol Building, or via webinar. For … Continue reading Annual RTKL & Sunshine Act Training: Nov. 7
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in the case of Food Marketing Institute v. Argus Leader Media, which dealt with trade secrets and other commercial information that may be confidential under the federal Freedom of Information Act. The Supreme Court held that, “Where commercial or financial information is both customarily and … Continue reading The RTKL & the SCOTUS Food Marketing Institute Decision
| Docket | Date | Title | County | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-0338 | 02/21/2020 | Lauzon v. City of Philadelphia Law Department | Philadelphia | Dismissed: Untimely |
| 2020-0324 | 02/20/2020 | Farrell v. Upper Macungie Township Police Department | Lehigh | Transferred |
| 2020-0321 | 02/20/2020 | Linder v. Marple Township Police Department | Delaware | Dismissed: Untimely |
| 2020-0195 | 02/20/2020 | Hetrick v. City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation and Technology | Philadelphia | Withdrawn |
| 2020-0162 | 02/20/2020 | Miller v. Lackawanna County | Lackawanna | Dismissed: Untimely |
| 2020-0140 | 02/20/2020 | Bononi v. Pennsylvania State Police | Commonwealth | Dismissed: Failure to State Grounds |
| 2020-0135 | 02/20/2020 | Haupt v. Housing Authority of the City of Shamokin | Northumberland | Denied |
| Date | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| March 9, 2020, 2:00 PM | Pennsylvania Association of Sewage Enforcement Officers | |
| May 21, 2020, 12:00 AM | PA State Association of Boroughs | |
| May 28, 2020, 12:00 AM | PA State Association of Boroughs | |
| August 6, 2020, 12:50 PM | Legal Update - Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs | |
| September 17, 2020, 12:00 AM | PA State Association of Boroughs | |
| September 24, 2020, 12:00 AM | PA State Association of Boroughs |
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