4th Annual Public Records Act Litigation Seminar
John Kennedy will be the program co-chair of the upcoming Fourth Annual Public Records Act Litigation Seminar, hosted by Law Seminars International, on June 8, 2016 in Walnut Creek, California. This intensive one-day event will look at the unique procedural issues of bringing and defending Public Records Act suits in California. At 4:00 p.m., Mr. Kennedy will co-present on the panel on "Ethical Issues and Practical Tips for Requestor and Public Sector Responders." The panel will handling records requests under the glare of public scrutiny; serial and continuing requests and "rolling production"; assessing the risk of saying no; and attorney fee awards.
Who Should Attend
Public and private attorneys who litigate over denials of citizen and media public records requests; public officials responsible for managing public records
California's Public Records Act (PRA), enacted in 1968, has been an important tool for citizens seeking access to public records to learn about, understand, and monitor the decisions and spending of government agencies and officials. The PRA has entered an activist era, with more citizens submitting PRA requests and then suing when they are denied. Public agencies have had to balance the economic consequences of wrongful denials and weigh their duty to disclose records shedding light on their operations, even when such records sometimes may expose public employees or public entities to public scrutiny and criticism. The California Supreme Court has decided several PRA cases in recent years.
To register, click here.