CASE SUMMARY: LFTG v. Elizabeth School District

  Case Name:  Libertarians for Transparent Government (LFTG) v. Elizabeth School District Docket Number: UNN-L-0160-17 County: Union Filing Date: January 11, 2017 Presiding Judge: Mega, Robert J. Status:   Open.  (Pending Order to Show Cause hearing on March 10, 2017)   Overview: This case presents the issue of whether there is a right of access under Read More …

Two courts rule for release of informal or draft settlement documents. Two more cases pending.

A 9/14/2016 decision by an Essex County Superior Court judge favored a records requestor seeking a settlement confirmation letter pertaining to a lawsuit against Caldwell Borough. The court ruled that the letter was disclosable under OPRA even though the settlement had not been formally approved. That makes two such decisions now supporting the early release Read More …

Lawsuit seeks settlement docs/terms prior to formal signing of agreement

Settlement agreements involving governmental agencies or officials are public records.  However, public agencies often balk at releasing these records or disclose only the final signed agreement at best. Settlements often involve large sums of public money, whether paid by a governmental agency or its insurer (taxpayer-funded premiums are commensurate with payments under the policy), but formalization Read More …

CASE SUMMARY: LFTG v. Willingboro Township

CASE SUMMARY:  LFTG v. Willingboro Township   Case Name: Libertarians for Transparent Government (LFTG) v. Willingboro Township and Sarah Wooding Docket Number: BUR-L-1415-16 County: Burlington Filing Date: July 1, 2016 Presiding Judge:  Bookbinder, Ronald E. Status: Resolved except issue of attorney fees award.   Overview: This case sought to determine whether a proposed release exchanged Read More …