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$118,000 Attorney Fee Award in Pennsylvania DOC Public Records Case
by David M. Reutter
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania awarded $118,458.37 in attorney fees in a public records suit brought by Uniontown Newspapers. The award followed the court’s finding that the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PDOC) had acted in “bad faith” by not producing the requested records.
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More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- California County Jail, Private Medical Provider to Pay $825,000 for Prisoner’s Death, by Chad Marks
- $100,000 Withheld from Washington Jail for Failure to Fully Implement Ban on Juvenile Solitary Confinement, by Chad Marks
- Kentucky Jail Rents Texting Devices to Prisoners, by Scott Grammer
- Cook County Commissioners Approve $1.5 Million Settlement for Jail Beating, by Chad Marks
- Tennessee Adopts Alternative Sentencing for Primary Caregivers of Minor Children, by Edward Lyon
- Oklahoma County Settles Lawsuit Over Jail Prisoner’s Suicide for $350,000, by Matthew Clarke
- Former BOP Official Pays $50,000 to Settle Anti-Kickback Claims, by Scott Grammer
- $500,000 Settlement in Lawsuit Over Alcohol Withdrawal Death of Indiana Jail Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- President Trump Pardons Conservative Political Allies, by Douglas Ankney
- $50,000 for Missouri Jail Prisoner Who Suffered Injuries Caused by Broken Plumbing, by Edward Lyon
- Ninth Circuit Rejects Lawsuit by California Prisoners Over Exposure to Valley Fever, by Chad Marks
- Federal Court Caps Attorney Fees in Suit Over Teen Girl Raped in Oklahoma Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- Tennessee Prisoners File Lawsuit Challenging Video Visitation Policy at County Jail, by Chad Marks
- Increasing Number of Walkaways from California Early-Release Programs, by Edward Lyon
- Allegation that Prisoner was Beaten after Guard Outed Him as Sex Offender Stated Eighth Amendment Claim, by Douglas Ankney
- Thomas Silverstein, America’s Most Isolated Prisoner, Dies at Age 67, by Matthew Clarke
- Death Rate of Prisoners in Michigan Much Higher than Reported, by Kevin W. Bliss
- $185,000 Settlement in Beating of Florida Jail Prisoner; Guard Convicted, by David M. Reutter
- UK Using Facial Recognition Technology on Prison Visitors ... is the U.S. Next?, by Chad Marks
- Arizona Federal Court Levies Sanctions Against Corizon Health, by Edward Lyon
- Steep Cost for Sending Hawaii Prisoners to Mainland Facilities
- Preliminary Settlement in Lawsuit Against JPay Over Prison Video Calls Ending Early, by Scott Grammer
- Connecticut DOC Settles Calendar Lawsuit for $1,500, Policy Changes
- Former Florida Senator Now Employed by Private Prison Company He Helped While in the State Senate, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Build it and They will Come: Officials Claim Spokane, Washington Needs Bigger Jail, by Dale Chappell
- California Jailer Accused of Raping Detainees to Stand Trial, by Edward Lyon
- Cops, Guards Beat Mentally Ill Arrestee to Death as Jail Nurse Watches; $5 Million Settlement, by Edward Lyon
- $100,000 Settlement for Suicide of Mentally Ill Prisoner Repeatedly Raped, by Douglas Ankney
- $1.1 Million Settlement for Michigan Parole Officer in Sexual Harassment Suit, by David M. Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Reverses District Court’s Denial of Blind Prisoner’s Request for Counsel, by Douglas Ankney
- Commander of Guantanamo Bay Military Prison Fired, by Douglas Ankney
- Tennessee Jail Sexual Assault Lawsuit can Proceed, Federal Court Rules, by David M. Reutter
- Lawsuit Claims Denial of Medical Care Nearly Killed Prisoner at Colorado Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- Missouri DOC Costs State Another $600,000 in Sexual Harassment Settlement, by Douglas Ankney
- New York Appellate Court Holds Names of Prison Guards are Public Records, by Edward Lyon
- New York: $655,000 Award after State Found 100% Responsible for Prisoner Assault, by Douglas Ankney
- $30,000 Settlement for Pennsylvania Pretrial Detainee Subjected to Excessive Force, by David M. Reutter
- Pennsylvania County Pays $1.1 Million to Former Prisoner Beaten by Guards, by Chad Marks
- Mexican Mafia Crime Ring Busted in Los Angeles, San Bernardino County Jails, by Scott Grammer
- After Needless Prisoner Deaths, Connecticut DOC Takes Over Prison Healthcare, by Matthew Clarke
- Washington: Prisoners’ Complaints Lead to Changes in DOC’s Drug Testing Policy, by Chad Marks
- Mumia Abu-Jamal to Receive New Appellate Hearing, by David M. Reutter
- $60,000 Settlement for Female Pennsylvania Prisoner in Sexual Assault Suit, by David M. Reutter
- $118,000 Attorney Fee Award in Pennsylvania DOC Public Records Case, by David M. Reutter
- Correlation Between Dyslexia and Criminal Behavior; First Step Act to Require Screening, Treatment, by Douglas Ankney
- New Jersey Jail to Pay $1.2 Million for Strip Searching Detainees, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Final Settlement Entered in 1976 Class-Action Suit Against Florida Jail, by Scott Grammer
- Iowa Prisoners Say Law Banning Publications Containing Nudity Too Broad, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Should Private Companies Exploit Prisoners Through Exclusive Government Contracts?, by Dale Chappell
- Arizona DOC Bans Book Critical of Justice System, Reverses Decision Following Criticism, by Anthony W. Accurso
- Lawsuit Proceeds Over Death of Prisoner at Privately-Run Jail, by Scott Grammer
- Habeas Petition Granted Over Failing Roof, Unsanitary Conditions at California Prison, by Matthew Clarke
- New York County Pays $35,000 to Settle Retaliation Claim Against Sheriff, by Dale Chappell
- New California Law Bans Male Prison Guards from Pat-Searching Female Prisoners, by Scott Grammer
- Report Shows How Private Equity Firms Profit from Mass Incarceration, by Dale Chappell
- $2 Million Awarded to New Mexico Prisoner Left in Hot Transport Van, by Edward Lyon
- Missouri County Agrees to $60,000 Settlement in Wrongful Death Case, by Kevin Bliss
- Problems with Ion Scanners Used to Detect Drugs on Prison Visitors, by Edward Lyon
- Illinois Prison Phone Rates are Lowest Following Grassroots Activism, by Brian Dolinar
- Kentucky Corrections, Parole Officials Fired, by Edward Lyon
- CoreCivic Prisons in Tennessee Have Twice as Many Murders, Four Times the Homicide Rate as State-Run Facilities
- $30,000 Settlement in Pennsylvania Jail Excessive Strip Search Suit, by David M. Reutter
- Cook County Sheriff’s Office Pays $110,000 to Settle PLN Censorship Suit
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Force-Feeding is Cruel, Painful and Degrading – and American Prisons Won’t Stop, by Aviva Stahl
More from David M. Reutter:
- Minnesota Supreme Court Announces Heightened Voluntariness Inquiry Required for Contingent Guilty Pleas and Holds Plea Withdrawal Is the Proper Remedy When District Court Fails to Probe Coercion Risk, June 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces “Results” of Postconviction DNA Testing Under § 925.11 Include Underlying Testing Data Necessary for Expert Analysis, Holding That No Additional Burden Applies Once a Motion for Testing Has Been Granted, June 1, 2026
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Calling Known Recalcitrant Witness Before Jury Constitutes Reversible Error and Prosecutorial Misconduct Regardless of Whether Witness Expressly Invokes Fifth Amendment Privilege, Qualifying Contrary Precedent, June 1, 2026
- First Circuit Vacates Drug Courier’s Sentence, Holding District Court Erred by Failing to Conduct Proper Comparative Culpability Analysis Under § 3B1.2 When It Excluded Other Participants in Drug Shipment From Universe of Comparators, May 1, 2026
- $875,000 Award for Illinois Prisoner’s Delay in Getting Hernia Surgery, June 1, 2025
- California Appellate Court: Custody Credits Must be Applied to Concurrent Terms in Multiple Open Cases, June 1, 2025
- Sixth Circuit Limits Deliberate Indifference Standard in Kentucky Jail Medical Care Challenge, June 1, 2025
- New Mexico Watchdog Group Sues for Video Allegedly Showing Jailers Killing Detainee, June 1, 2025
- $7.75 Million Settlement for Exonerated North Carolina Prisoner, June 1, 2025
- $13 Million Awarded to Exonerated Massachusetts Prisoner for Wrongful Conviction, June 1, 2025
More from these topics:
- Florida Supreme Court Announces “Results” of Postconviction DNA Testing Under § 925.11 Include Underlying Testing Data Necessary for Expert Analysis, Holding That No Additional Burden Applies Once a Motion for Testing Has Been Granted, June 1, 2026. DNA Testing/Samples, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Forensic Sciences, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- Oklahoma Supreme Court: Jail Trust Cannot Withhold Requested Records under Law Enforcement Exemption of ORA, May 1, 2026. Summary Judgment, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act, Statutory Construction/Interpretation.
- Ohio Supreme Court Awards Prisoner $1,000 for Denied Records Request, April 1, 2026. Administrative Exhaustion (PLRA), Damages, Public Records, Public Records Act.
- Exonerated Former Prisoner Wins Election for Chief Record Keeper in New Orleans, Jan. 1, 2026. Prisoner Legal Assistance, Juries, Public Records, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Over $222,000 in Legal Costs and Fees Awarded to HRDC in Florida Records Suit Against Centurion, Dec. 1, 2025. Attorney Fee Awards, Costs, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act.
- $1.8 Million Settlement Reached Following CDCR Data Breach, Nov. 1, 2025. DOC/BOP misconduct, Medical Records, Settlements, Class Certification, Disclosure of Records, Class Notice, Public Records, Restitution, Trust Accounts.
- Nearly $528,000 Paid by Kansas Jail to Detainees Raped by Guards, Nov. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Attorney Fee Awards, Prison Rape Elimination Act, Failure to Train/Supervise, Monell Liability.
- Sixth Circuit Order Sealing Records in Private Prison Shareholder Suit Vacated, Remanded, Aug. 1, 2025. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Misconduct/Corruption, Public Records.
- Over 100,000 Criminal Records Sealed Under Colorado’s “Clean Slate Act”, March 1, 2025. Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Criminal Records.
- With HRDC Amicus Brief, Survivor of Dead Washington Prisoner Wins Public Records Case, Jan. 15, 2025. Public Records, Wrongful Death, Briefs, HRDC Litigation.

