Legal Hotline

Q: Are settlement agreements involving public agencies considered public records? Can an agency rely upon a confidentiality clause in a settlement agreement to deny access?  A:  Settlement agreements between public […]

Q: Does HIPAA prevent hospitals from releasing any and all information about patients? Does HIPAA restrict our ability to publish medical information? A:  While HIPAA prohibits unauthorized release of individually […]

Q: What documentation should news media organizations get from advertisers when allowing “adult 55+,” “retirement community,” “senior housing” and similar terminology in a housing ad? A:  Publishers are generally not […]

Q: What are the rules when using terms like “Super Bowl,” “Super Sunday,” and NFL team names, logos and players in ads? * NOTE: This advice applies to commercial uses […]

Q:  A board of supervisors heard testimony on a zoning application, took public comment, and then announced that they would “meet privately to discuss the application and public comment.” After the […]

Q: Can bingo and small games of chance ads include specific prizes and dollar amounts of prizes? A: Pennsylvania’s Bingo Law allows prizes and dollar value of prizes to be awarded in […]

Q: A local borough council member told me they won’t be holding an organizational meeting in January, and they are the only borough in my area not holding one.  Aren’t boroughs […]

Q: Does the Sunshine Act require agencies to provide a general meeting notice at the beginning of the year, and if so, what are the requirements? A: Yes. The Sunshine Act […]

Q: A borough in our coverage area discussed and approved a proposed budget at its last public meeting. They also published public notice of the proposed budget’s approval. When I asked […]