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.
More information about Disclosure
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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