California Supreme Court Rules on Public’s Access to Public Employees’ Personal Email and Text Messaging Accounts

The Supreme Court of California has handed down a long-awaited ruling on the applicability of the state’s public records law to work related emails and text messages sent over a public employee’s personal devices and accounts.

Newspaper Sues Ohio State Fire Marshal To Release LODD Fire Records

The Cincinnati Enquirer is suing the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office in an effort to obtain records related to a fire that claimed the life of Hamilton firefighter Patrick Wolterman. Wolterman died on December 28, 2015 at a house fire.

Florida Firefighter Files Public Records Suit

A former Palm Beach battalion chief who was demoted in 2011 and fired in 2012 has filed a new suit against the town, claiming it violated the state’s pubic record act. Jason Weeks was one of two firefighters at the ...

Public Records Violation Prompts Donation to New Jersey Fire Department

A New Jersey fire department has become the unexpected beneficiary of court awarded attorney fees in a digital age public records case. Last January developer 297 Palisade Avenue Urban Renewal Company LLC filed suit against the Borough of Bogata seeking ...

Text Messages, Public Records and Burning Questions: Orlando

Today’s burning question: Are text messages subject to disclosure under the public records laws? Answer: Yes, work related text messages sent or received by a public employee are a public record and unless they fall under one of the listed ...

Firefighters Union Ordered to Pay $23k in Attorneys Fees in Public Records Case

In a ruling that one public records attorney called “unprecedented”, a California judge has ordered a firefighters’ union to pay the attorneys fee of a public watch dog group who sought the release of records that the union sought to ...

Volunteer Fire Companies and Freedom of Information – Open Records Laws

Freedom of information laws have become such a vital part of how modern government operates, that it is hard to remember that prior to the Watergate scandal of the 1970s, much of the operations of government were cloaked in secrecy. ...

Public Records Law Versus Firefighter Bill of Rights

A recent case involving the Anderson Fire Protection District, in California points out the challenges that sometimes occur when complying with open records laws. In May, 2009, the district board placed the fire chief on leave while it investigated allegations ...

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