Tag: OPRA

New Jersey municipal law

NJ Government Officers Required to File Financial Disclosure Statements Electronically

Local government officers will soon be required to file their financial disclosure statement forms online. The goal is to facilitate greater public disclosure of FDS forms while also relieving records custodians of some of the burdens associated with Open Public Records Act (OPRA) compliance. In New Jersey, local government officers

Donald Scarinci

OPRA Decision Clarifies Exception for Proprietary Commercial or Financial Information

A recent decision by the Appellate Division clarifies the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) exception for proprietary commercial or financial information. The case also addresses what types of materials fall within the meaning of “underwriting rules” under N.J.S.A. 17:29A-46.2(b), which states that “underwriting rules” filed by insurers “shall

NJ Supreme Court Overturns Arbitration Award in Teacher Misconduct Case

NJ Court Orders School Officials to Reimburse District for Legal Fees For Improper Lawsuit

The Appellate Division recently ordered two school officials to reimburse their district for legal fees when the school board improperly instituted legal action on their behalf. It concluded that a defamation lawsuit was not brought in the interest of the Elizabeth Board of Education, but rather, in the interest of

Tips for New Jersey Municipalities Making OPRA Redactions

When responding to a request under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), municipalities frequently seek to redact information that should not be disclosed. However, in order to avoid an improper denial of access complaint, it is important make sure that all OPRA redactions are not only performed properly but

Five Tips for Improving OPRA Compliance in 2013

New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) will remain one of the top compliance concerns for New Jersey municipalities in 2013. This post offers several tips in the areas that often cause the most confusion. Understand Your Deadline: Under OPRA, record custodians have seven business days to respond to a

Update: Amendments to Open Records Laws Fail to Reach Final Senate Vote

A final vote was scheduled before the New Jersey Senate on two bills that would have amended the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).  Prior to the vote the bills’ sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, reached out to the New Jersey League

OPRA Cases Clarify Availability of Attorney’s Fees for Prevailing Parties

Under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), a requestor who prevails in any proceeding brought under the law is entitled to a reasonable attorney’s fee. The Appellate Division recently clarified what happens when a party only achieves limited success in a lawsuit. The Facts of the Case Wolosky v.