Tag Archives: public records

Today’s burning question: If a firefighter’s personal device such as a cellphone connects to a wireless network provided by a governmental agency, is the information transmitted automatically subject to the state’s public records law? Answer: Whether an electronic communication is a public record has nothing to do with how it is transmitted.

Read More »

A Rhode Island fire district has agreed to pay a $1500 fine for violating the state’s public records law. The Manville Fire District was accused of failing to respond to a public records request back in 2014. Attorney General Peter Kilmartin filed suit against Manville to enforce the requirements of the APRA.

Read More »

The settlement of a lawsuit filed by a female candidate for the Kenner, Louisiana Fire Department, has sparked a second lawsuit – this one over access to the terms of the settlement. Jack Zewe, described in the media as a ...

Read More »

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 ...

Read More »

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 ...

Read More »

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 ...

Read More »

A local newspaper has filed suit against a Washington fire district for refusing to provide requested public records, destroying requested records, and violation of the state’s open meetings law. The La Conner Weekly News filed a 37 page complaint against ...

Read More »

A settlement has been reached in the contentious public records case that evolved out of the tragic Yarnell Fire in Arizona earlier this year. On June 30, 2013 nineteen Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters from the Prescott (AZ) Fire Department were ...

Read More »

An elected official in Illinois says she is tired of being harassed by volunteer firefighters sounding their horns when they drive fire apparatus by her house. However, according to the fire chief her strategy may prompt many members of the ...

Read More »

Today’s burning question: Our union attended a city council meeting, and during the course of the meeting we observed one of the councilmen texting. Are his texts subject to the public record laws? I mean, wouldn’t it be awesome if ...

Read More »