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Sunday, October 21, 2012

IS YOUR RIGHT TO INFORMATION ONLY YOUR RIGHT IF YOU CAN PAY FOR IT?

By Michael Nichols

House Bill 5879 seeks to promote transparency from government agencies responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. FOIA allows all members of the public, including reporters and attorneys, to request access to public documents from government agencies. An agency must provide the requested documents unless a statutory exceptions exempts the production of documents. Agencies must respond to a FOIA request within 5 business days. In reality, many government agencies frequently provide requested documents well after the statutory deadline, refuse to turn over documents, and charge fees for copies of the records. If passed, House Bill 5879 would prohibit government units from charging more than 10 cents a page for requested documents or charging to view the documents personally. The Bill would also force government agencies to waiving all fees if they produce documents after the 5 day deadline.

The FOIA statute authorizes those aggrieved by a FOIA denial to file a suit against the government agency. The Nichols Law Firm has successfully sued government agencies who have improperly denied FOIA requests in criminal cases. If you want an attorney who is not afraid to do whatever it takes to uncover the truth in your case, contact the Nichols Law Firm at (517) 432-9000.

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Peer Recognition

Mike Nichols is a national leader in drunk driving defense. He is a member of the Forensic Committee and Michigan delegate to the National College for DUI Defense. He is also a Sustaining Member of the College. Nichols is also a founding member of the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys; a member of the American Chemical Society; an associate member of he American Academy of Forensic Science, Adjunct Professor of Forensic Evidence in Criminal Law and OWI Law and Practice at Cooley Law School. He is also author of the West OWI Practice book and several chapters in other books on science and the law.

Mike Nichols is recognized by his peers in Michigan as a “SuperLawyer” in DUI/Criminal Defense. Nichols has also been asked to speak at conferences by groups such as the NCDD; Various Bar Associations in other states.