Ocean judge orders Stafford to identify denied documents.

In a May 25, 2015 ruling, Ocean County Assignment Judge Vincent J. Grasso ordered Stafford Township to produce a “Vaughn index” that identifies and describes the nature of each record that it claims to be exempt from disclosure.  Background on the suit is on-line here.

In his opinion, which is on-line here, Grasso notes that “a Vaughn index is necessary for plaintiff to advocate his case under both OPRA and the common law. The Township provided no information about the documents that it withheld from disclosure, but merely argu[ed] the confidentiality requirements under the personnel record exemption.”

Judge Grasso also rejected Stafford’s cross-motion that sought a declaration that my lawsuit was frivolous.  Grasso wrote that “the court finds that plaintiff has a legitimate basis for his litigation and his claim cannot be dismissed as frivolous as this juncture.”  My blog entry on Stafford’s frivolity claim is on-line here.

I was represented in the suit by C.J. Griffin.