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The California Department of Health Services, Ongoing Investigations, and Public Records Q: I’m a reporter tracking down the causes of an E coli outbreak. The California Department of Health Services isn’t releasing info because it considers its investigation ongoing. Are health investigations exempt? I’m not sure how release of information might jeopardize a scientific investigation. How should I phrase my request to get the documents as soon as possible? Also – as part of this

Small Claims Court, Case Files, Public Access Q: Are the case files for small claims courts cases were judgments are awarded available for review by the public?  If so, can you please provide me with the authority?  Can you refer me to a website were I can do more research on this subject? A: Unless the records you seek are sealed (in which case you can file a motion to unseal), or unless they fall

Are School Yearbooks Public Records? Q: I would like to know if Student Yearbooks held by a school district are considered public records.  I recently contacted a District about it and was informed they would not allow me to review the yearbooks. A: The California Public Records Act (“PRA”) provides that public records are presumptively open to the public, unless exempt from disclosure under the PRA.  Government Code section 6254(k) exempts from disclosure “[r]ecords the