PaFOIC

OOR stays release of home addresses of public employees

From Terry Mutchler
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Office of Open Records

On Tuesday, July 28, 2009, the Commonwealth Court issued a temporary injunction in which Senior Judge Rochelle Friedman stated in part that “the release of home addresses of all public school employees is hereby stayed until further order of this Court.”

Judge Friedman issued this order following the filing of a complaint for declaratory judgment and a complaint in equity for injunctive relief by the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the statewide union representing over 191,000 public school teachers and education support professionals, staff in state higher education institutions, nurses in health care facilities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become teachers.

The Office of Open Records will abide by this order until the Commonwealth Court either lifts the preliminary injunction or after a hearing, decides whether a permanent injunction will be issued.

Further, as Executive Director I have directed that the Office of Open Records will make no distinction between the protection of home addresses of public school employees and those of other public employees. In equity to all public employees, the Office of Open Records will issue no final determinations ordering the release of public employee home addresses only pending resolution of this matter by the Commonwealth Court .

READ THE COURT ORDER