Publication
Legal Alert – Public Record Requests—New Scope of Confidentiality and Disclosure Requirements Under Nevada’s Public Records Act
by John S. Delikanakis
In a recent en banc opinion affecting all Nevada public entities, the Nevada Supreme Court addressed the scope of confidentiality under Nevada’s Public Records Act, NRS 286.110(3)(“the Act”).
The opinion arises out of a 2011 public records request [by a Reno-based newspaper, the Reno-Gazette-Journal, to Nevada’s Public Employees’ Retirement System (“PERS”)]. The newspaper sought the names of all individuals collecting pensions, the names of their government employers, their salaries, their hire and retirement dates and the amount of their pension payments.
PERS denied the request, claiming that the information under the Act was confidential because the personnel files of individual retired employees are not public records.
About Snell & Wilmer
Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 500 attorneys practicing in 17 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto and San Diego, California; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Los Cabos, Mexico. The firm represents clients ranging from large, publicly traded corporations to small businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit swlaw.com.
