Docket Sheet

Cathleen Palm and Center for Children's Justice v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

OOR Dkt. No.: AP 2026-0442
Case Status: Partially Granted: Partially Dismissed

04/13/2026

03/27/2026

Hecker, Catherine

Commonwealth

The Request sought communications of the Department related to the Keystone Child Abuse Medical Forum, enlisting medical experts used by the Department and its contractors, and programs and policies related to medical expertise and consultation. The Department provided certain responsive records during the course of the appeal. The Department proved that certain records are exempt as internal predecisional deliberations and personal identification information. The Department failed to demonstrate that it conducted a good faith search for all responsive records. Granted in part, denied in part, and dismissed as moot in part.

Clause Exemption Result
708 (b) (10) (i) A record that reflects: (A) The internal, predecisional deliberations of an agency, its members, employees or officials or predecisional deliberations between agency members, employees or officials and members, employees or officials of another agency , including predecisional deliberations relating to a budget recommendation, legislative proposal, legislative amendment, contemplated or proposed policy or course of action or any research, memos or other documents used in the predecisional deliberations. (B) The strategy to be used to develop or achieve the successful adoption of a budget, legislative proposal or regulation. (ii) Subparagraph (i)(A) shall apply to agencies subject to 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) in a manner consistent with 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7. A record which is not otherwise exempt from access under this act and which is presented to a quorum for deliberation in accordance with 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 shall be a public record. (iii) This paragraph shall not apply to a written or Internet application or other document that has been submitted to request Commonwealth funds. (iv) This paragraph shall not apply to the results of public opinion surveys, polls, focus groups, marketing research or similar effort designed to measure public opinion. Denied
708 (b) (6) The following personal identification information: Denied
Agency Invoked an Extension The agency invoked a 30 day extension to respond to the request.
Dismissed as moot Dismissed as moot Dismissed
Other Other Granted
Requester Granted Extension to OOR The requester granted the OOR a 30, 60, or 90 day extension to issue a final determination in the appeal.
Docket Entries
Filed Description Step Court Document
04/13/2026 OOR Final Determination Final Determination
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