On September 23, 2014, Burlington County Assignment Judge Ronald E. Bookbinder ordered Hainesport Township to disclose which Township officials and employees were receiving taxpayer subsidized health insurance. This decision was made in response to my lawsuit, brought by attorney Walter M. Luers of Clinton, that sought that information under both the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the common law right of access. Bookbinder ultimately ruled that the documents were subject to disclosure under the common law.
Today, January 14, 2015, Bookbinder also ordered Hainesport to pay Luers $4,770.70 in attorney’s fees and $359.92 in costs. This is one of only a few cases where a court has ruled that the common law right of access triggers an award of attorney fees. Bookbinder’s decision is on-line here.