Current News
Citizens Empowered by “Right to Know Law”
Passed on February 14, 2008, the Pennsylvania “Right to Know Law” made it easier than ever for Pennsylvanians to learn more about how their state and local governments and agencies operate and spend citizens’ tax dollars. The Law applies to all requests for records made after December 31, 2008 and operates under the assumption that most government records should be public. The Pennsylvania legislature passed the Law to enable more effective scrutiny of public officials’ use of public funds.
Under the Law, an agency is required to provide public records in response to an appropriate request. Of particular note is that an agency may not consider a citizen’s motivations in requesting access to public records. In other words, an agency may not deny access to public records if, for some reason, the agency believes the requester lacks a “legitimate” purpose for viewing the records. This provides Pennsylvanians substantial power in examining the use of public finds and holding public officials accountable.
Under the Law, a record in the possession of a state or local agency is presumed to be public unless it is either protected by a particular statute, protected by a privilege, or exempt under some other judicial order. The burden, however, is on the agency to prove that the record is protected in some way. Pennsylvanians also have access to legislative records under similar terms. So if you are interested in learning how your state and local officials use your tax dollars, make an appropriate records request using the form available on the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records website.
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THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE KEENAN FAMILY!!
Rowan and Jaime Keenan are proud to announce
the birth of
Charlotte Jane Keenan
December 26, 2011.
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KEENAN CICCITTO DEFENDS COMCAST CUSTOMERS IN COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT CASE
Keenan, Ciccitto & Associates is representing local Comcast customers who recently received notice that Comcast was ordered via a subpoena from the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to disclose the names, addresses and phone numbers of the customers as part of a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement.
K-Beech, Inc. has filed two mass copyright infringement lawsuits in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as well as nearly identical lawsuits in other states, alleging that internet users downloaded their copyrighted films using a program called BitTorrent. The suits demand actual damages, injunctive relief, and statutory damages of $250,000.00 from the unnamed John Doe defendants, currently identified only by their IP addresses. K-Beech has served subpoenas in an attempt to force internet service providers such as Comcast to reveal the names, addresses and phone numbers of the customers who were assigned the IP addresses allegedly used to download the copyrighted material.
Keenan, Ciccitto & Associates is preparing to defend its clients at trial if necessary, and has already identified several applicable defenses- for example that the copyright infringement was not willful, or that the infringement was committed by someone other than the Comcast customer, such as a family member, a household guest who used the home’s wireless internet connection, or a stranger who either accessed a home’s unsecured wireless connection or hacked into a secure wireless connection.
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THE FIRM PHOTO SHOOT SEPTEMBER, 2011
In Front - Rowan Keenan and Thomas M. Keenan
In Back, Left to Right - Louise M. Petrillo, Thomas Pivnicny, Carole Krell, Susan Padworny,
Sherri X. Russo, Damien D. Brewster, Coleen Duncan
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2011 PERKIOMEN CREEK SOJOURN
Keenan, Ciccitto & Associates once again sponsored the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy's Perkiomen Creek Sojourn! This year's sojourn was cancelled in May due to high water on the Perky, and was rescheduled to Saturday, August 27, 2011 - the day Hurricane Irene arrived! We didn't let Irene stop us and we paddled on! We started out at 9:00am and although the impending weather forced us to end a little earlier than planned, it was a successful journey and most amazing trip! We ended our adventure with a picnic lunch. Thank you to all who joined us!
2011 SOJOURN PIX
Tom Keenan making his way down the river.
Damien Brewster paddling on.
Time for a break.
Rowan Keenan relaxing on the Perkiomen.
Almost there!
What a great group!
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2010 SOJOURN PIX
Check out all pix of last year's sojourn!
For additional information, please visit the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy's website at http://www.perkiomenwatershed.org/.
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THOMAS KEENAN RECEIVED AN ASA 103 CERTIFICATION
Tom Keenan recently took a Coastal Cruising course at the Maryland School of Sailing and Seamanship. He learned the fundamentals of coastal cruising an auxiliary sailing yacht during daylight hours. Subjects included Rules of the Road, required equipment, engines and troubleshooting, weather observations, heavy weather, basic navigation, intensive boat docking practice and instruction, and much more. The four day course included theory and practical exercises aboard the boat. Mr. Keenan successfully completed the course and received an ASA 103 Certification. He now has the skills necessary to independently coastal cruise boats to 30 feet in length.
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July 22 and 24, 2010
Tom Keenan climbed the 2nd and 3rd highest mountains in the lower 48 states!
Mount Massive - 14,000 feet and Mount Elbert 14,433
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2009 MARVIN J. LEWIS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Keenan, Ciccitto & Associates is pleased to announce that Thomas M. Keenan, Esquire was awarded the 2009 Marvin J. Lewis Community Service Award by the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce on April 2, 2009. This award is granted annually to an outstanding member of the community who qualifies most highly, both in deed and spirit and whose long-term efforts and involvement have made a significant, positive impact upon life within the Perkiomen Valley.
Pictured above at the April 2, 2009 Annual Meeting of the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce, from left to right, Carole Krell (Director of Freeland Abstract, Ltd.), Charlotte Keenan (Tom's mother), Tom Keenan, Lowi Keenan (Tom's wife), Rowan Keenan, Sherri X. Russo (Tom's Assistant & Office Mgr) and Susan Padworny (Legal Assistant).
On January 5, 2009, Thomas M. Keenan, Esquire was reappointed as Township Solicitor for Lower Frederick Township.
Thomas Keenan is the legal counsel to the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce and he is also President of Freeland Abstract, Ltd., a title insurance provider.
Rowan Keenan serves as an elected member of Borough Council in his home town of Collegeville.
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