News from 2010

Nauman Smith Attorney J. Stephen Feinour Elected to the Council of the Municipal Law Section of the PA Bar Association

Partner, J. Stephen Feinour has been elected to the Council of the Municipal Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association… Read On

No Immediate Access to Coroner Information under RTKL

On November 16, 2010, a three judge panel of the Commonwealth Court held that the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) does not provide immediate access to the name of a deceased and the manner of death.  Hearst Television, Inc. et al. v. Norris et al., 95 C.D. 2010.  The unanimous decision upheld the Cumberland County trial court decision which affirmed the Office of Open Records denial of a television station’s request that this information be immediately disclosed under § 708(20) of the RTKL. … Read On

Commonwealth Court Denies Charges by SERS for Labor Costs

On November 4, 2010, the Commonwealth Court in its decision, State Employees’ Retirement System v. Office of Open Records, No. 152 C.D. 2010, by Senior Judge Flaherty, denied a claim by SERS for labor charges in complying with a Right-to-Know request as a cost “necessarily incurred” under 65 P.S. § 67.1307(g).  SERS asserted that… Read On

Public Employee Home Addresses to Remain Private Until Supreme Court Determines Jurisdictional Issue in Teacher Home Address Case

One of the most fiercely contested issues arising after the 2008 revision of Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law is whether home addresses of public employees are public records.  Last year, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (“PSEA”) petitioned the Commonwealth Court to enjoin the Officer of Open Records (“OOR”) from ordering school districts to disclose home addresses of public school teachers. … Read On