Tag: New Jersey Open Public Records Act

Do Public Entities Have to Accept OPRA Requests Via Email?

The New Jersey Government Records Council (GRC) recently considered the electronic transmission of public records request under the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA). While the GRC concluded that records custodians are not required to accept requests via email, it did find that excluding all forms of electronic transmission would

NJ Supreme Court to Address OPRA’s Applicability to Security Camera Footage

NJ Supreme Court to Address OPRA’s Applicability to Security Camera Footage

The Supreme Court of New Jersey has agreed to consider how to apply the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) to security camera footage. The case, Patricia Gilleran v. Township of Bloomfield, specifically involves whether a municipality must publicly disclose security video footage captured by a stationary camera in a

New Jersey Voters to Decide Library Funding Question

Rutgers University Wins OPRA Appeal

Rutgers University recently prevailed in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Open Public Records Act and the common law right of access. The Appellate Division’s decision in Academy Express LLC v. Rutgers, The State Univ. highlights the confusion that can arise when OPRA challenges become entangled with public contract disputes.

NJ Appeals Court: Plaintiff Can’t Anonymously Pursue OPRA Complaint

NJ Appeals Court: Plaintiff Can’t Anonymously Pursue OPRA Complaint

The Appellate Division recently ruled against a plaintiff attempting to anonymously pursue a complaint under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) in Superior Court. According to the court’s decision in A.A. v. Gramiccioni, there is no statutory authorization, rule authorization or compelling reason authorizing the plaintiff to prosecute

OPRA security footage

NJ Appeals Court Rules Municipality Must Release Security Camera Footage Under OPRA

The Appellate Division recently addressed whether a municipality must publicly disclose security video footage captured by a stationary camera in a municipal building. The decision in Patricia Gilleran v. Township of Bloomfield, highlights that technology is increasingly at the center of disputes involving the state’s Open Public Records Act. The

NJ Appeals Court Criticizes GRC and OAG Over Handling of OPRA Request Regarding NYPD Surveillance

The Appellate Division recently issued a decision critical of the Government Records Council’s (GRC) handling of an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request. The case, Katon v. Department of Law and Public Safety, involved records related to the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation into intelligence-gathering conducted by the

NJ Supreme Court Holds Security Footage Not Subject to OPRA

NJ Court Rules Municipality Must Release Security Camera Footage Under OPRA

Late last month, an Atlantic County Superior Court judge ruled that the Buena Vista Township must provide access to security camera footage of a public meeting room, pursuant to a request made under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The Facts of the Case On July 29, 2014,

NJ Supreme Court Overturns Arbitration Award in Teacher Misconduct Case

NJ Court Rules Declaratory Judgment Is Improper Means to Challenge OPRA Denial

A New Jersey court recently clarified that a plaintiff cannot utilize the Declaratory Judgment Act to seek a declaration that its rights were violated under Open Public Records Act. In The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC v. The County of Bergen, the court also held that an OPRA complaint