Legal/Law/Criminal Justice and Reform

DCNF Reporter Wins Massive Legal Victory Against County That Tried To Silence Her For Requesting Public Records

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Daily Caller News Foundation reporter Megan Brock secured a victory last week after she was sued by Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 2022 to prevent the release of documents she requested related to the county’s school reopening plans and COVID-19 restrictions.

After the court conducted an in-camera review of the records, Judge Denise M. Bowman ruled on April 28 that more than half of Brock’s requests, which were made under the state’s Right-to-Know Law (RTK), had been withheld “in bad faith.” She ordered the county to release certain documents and pay $1,500 in sanctions for each of the two lawsuits brought against Brock, the maximum allowed under RTK.

“These court decisions are tremendous victories for the ‘right to know’ of parents and citizens,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “Indeed, the Court recognized the bad faith nature of the outrageous government lawsuits against our client Megan Brock for daring to ask questions about crazed covid school shutdowns.”

Brock, one of the county parents on the forefront of the fight to keep schools open during COVID-19, called the ruling a win “for every person in Bucks County, regardless of political affiliation.”

“Government transparency is a critical component of our constitutional Republic,” she said. “No one should be abused by their government or have their government weaponized against them for simply doing their due diligence as a responsible citizen.”

Brock’s first request, made on Feb. 7, 2022, sought all communications about Bucks County Health Department School Guidance and all communications Director of Policy and Communications Eric Nagy had with Board Vice Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Board Chair Bob Harvie, former Director of the Commissioners’ Office of Public Information Larry King, Chief Clerk Gail Humphrey and Health Department Director David Damsker between Aug. 8 and Aug. 28, 2021.

Her second request, made on March 8, 2022, asked for the Aug. 23, 2021, email containing the final copy of the Bucks County COVID-19 Amended School Guidance, which was sent to Acting Chief Operating Officer Margaret McKevitt.

“Our kids have been thrown into crisis due to the harsh COVID-19 lockdowns and prolonged school closures,” Brock said. “They deserve answers as to why and how these decisions were made, so that we can do better and learn from the mistakes of the past.”

“I’m so thankful for this outcome and I can’t adequately express my gratitude to Judicial Watch and my attorneys, Chad Schnee and Meredith DiLiberto, for their exceptional representation,” she continued.

Bucks County did not immediately respond to a request for comment.