What is Disclosure?
Disclosure is when a party provides documents and other information the opposing party requests to reveal relevant details about the case. This exchange helps prevent surprises during trials, promotes settlement negotiations, and ensures a more efficient and just resolution of disputes.
What is Disclosure?
Legal expert Stephen Mason states, “Disclosure is the foundation of fair proceedings, the rule that ensures justice is done.” Failure to comply with disclosure obligations, such as withholding evidence intended to be presented from the other party to the case, can lead to sanctions or adverse inferences against the non-compliant party, emphasizing its critical importance in maintaining the integrity of legal proceedings.
In practice, disclosure can encompass various materials, including documents, electronic communications, witness statements, expert reports, and other information relevant to the case. In civil litigation, parties are typically required to disclose documents that support or undermine their own case or the other party’s case. In criminal law, disclosure ensures the accused can access all evidence the prosecution holds, enabling them to mount a proper defense. Disclosure ensures fairness and transparency in legal proceedings by providing both parties with evidence to argue their case correctly.
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Personal Injury Glossary Terms
This glossary provides a quick-access resource for looking up definitions of terms you will likely encounter while seeking compensation.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W
A
Accident Report — A detailed official record of an incident created on-site by an authority figure such as a police officer or hospital staff member.
Act of God — An unforeseen event caused by natural forces without human involvement that couldn’t have been prevented with reasonable care, […]
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Munley Law Partner Marion Munley Sworn in as Treasurer for the American Association for Justice
Munley Law is pleased to announce that truck accident lawyer Marion Munley was sworn in as the Treasurer for the American Association for Justice (AAJ).
The American Association of Justice is a 20,000-member organization of plaintiff attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of trial by jury. The mission of the AAJ is to promote justice and fairness for injured victims, safeguard victims’ rights, and strengthen the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public safety and health.
Marion has held several positions in the AAJ over the years. She was elected as the AAJ Parliamentarian in 2022 and has served on the Board of Governors and its Executive Committee. In 2018, she was the first woman to become the Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigations Group and received the organization’s Robert W. Munley Champion of Justice Award in 2020. […]
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Marion Munley Elected Parliamentarian for the American Association for Justice
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is pleased to announce that Partner Marion Munley was elected as the Parliamentarian for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) at its annual convention in Seattle, Washington.
The American Association of Justice is a 20,000-member organization of plaintiff attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of trial by jury. The mission of the AAJ is to promote justice and fairness for injured victims, safeguard victims’ rights, and strengthen the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public safety and health.
A champion of victims’ rights and the civil justice system for over 25 years, Marion is known for her compassionate approach to representing the catastrophically injured and her tireless devotion to her clients and their families. Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law, […]
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Compensation Funds Offer Path to Justice for Abuse Victims
In the wake of the August grand jury report that documented decades of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the state, several dioceses in Pennsylvania have taken steps to establish a victim compensation fund. The report estimated that hundreds of priests in Pennsylvania molested over 1,000 children since the 1940s.
In early November, the Dioceses of Philadelphia, Scranton, Harrisburg, and Allentown announced programs that will compensate survivors who were sexually abused by priests in the Catholic Church. The announcements did not mention a total dollar amount for the funds or their maximum potential individual payouts. Participation in these programs will be voluntary.
Five of the dioceses have hired veteran compensation fund coordinator Ken Feinberg to map out and oversee their programs. The Philadelphia fund has set a filing deadline for claims at the end of next September, with Harrisburg and Scranton expected to begin their programs in January. […]
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New Rules Give Patients Better Access to Medical Records
A recent article in the New York Times explains new guidelines issued this month that aim to give patients easier access to their own medical information. In our view, this is an extremely important development, because having access to medical information allows people to take control of their own healthcare, and to find and fix potentially dangerous errors in their records. After a car accident that results in injuries, or an illness requiring hospitalization, it is important that people be informed about their care.
As the article notes, patients have long had the right to view their own medical records, but they frequently face obstacles that prevent them from exercising that right.
“Jump Through Hoops”
One of the most frequent complaints received by the Department of Health and Human Services is the difficulty patients experience in obtaining copies of their medical records. […]
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Boy Scouts Sex Scandal Includes Pennsylvania Men
Several men from northeastern and central PA convicted regarding Boy Scouts sex scandal
Several Pennsylvania men were named in files released by the Boy Scouts of America detailing how the organization dealt with allegations of child sex abuse.
The documents – made public after an Oregon judge ordered their disclosure in a lawsuit involving a man who said he was molested by a scoutmaster and that the BSA did nothing about it – have caused a national furor. They identify more than 1,000 leaders and volunteers banned from the group after being accused of sexual or inappropriate conduct with boys.
Included are the names of several men from Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania associated with the BSA who have been convicted of child sex abuse or investigated by police, according to PAHomePage.com:
Marcel Cinquina who heads up the Boy Scouts of Northeastern Pennsylvania says the organization has increased safety measures to protect children. […]
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