Transparency NJ

Lately, I’ve been endeavoring to use OPRA to dislodge settlements of lawsuits where at least one of the parties is a government agency, official or employee. Some of the agreements, like the one in the following news article, contain confidentiality clauses that prevent the parties from discussing the settlement terms. Others don’t have confidential clauses […]

At a special meeting to be held on January 14, 2009, at 7 p.m. the Rutherford Mayor and Council will discuss amendments to the Council’s bylaws. In its January 12, 2009 letter, the Libertarian Party’s Open Government Advocacy Project offered some comments and suggestions regarding Rutherford’s bylaws. That letter, along with a copy of the […]

This is in today’s paper. John PaffSomerset, New Jersey——————-$245K paid to settle police brutality suits by Veronica Slaght / Hunterdon County Democrat Wednesday January 14, 2009, 12:29 PM READINGTON TWP. — Two police brutality lawsuits were settled for a total of $245,000, according to agreements recently unearthed by open public records advocate John Paff. Mr. […]

On January 12, 2009, the Asbury Park Press ran a story (see below) about a former Oceanport councilman being fined $1,000 for a knowing and willful violation of the Open Public Records Act. I have obtained the Judge’s written decision and have put it on-line here. —————Former councilman fined $1,000 for violating public-records law By […]

In an unpublished trial court decision released today, Bergen County Superior Court Assignment Judge Peter E. Doyne denied Paramus Borough’s lawsuit seeking a declaration that the Borough Attorney must review all non-routine OPRA requests submitted to the Borough Clerk. The decision is here. Originally distributed on January 13, 2009