OPINION
JUSTICE TODD.
In this appeal by allowance, we consider the contours of the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law ("RTKL")
I. Facts
As described more fully below, the General Assembly enacted the Medical Marijuana Act to establish a framework for the legalization of medical marijuana in the Commonwealth. Appellant, the Department of Health ("Department"), is the agency responsible for administering the statute, and it promulgated temporary regulations to aid in this endeavor.
Prior thereto, in May 2017, PennLive reporter Wallace McKelvey, PennLive, and the Patriot-News (collectively, "Appellees") requested disclosure of all of the medical marijuana business permit applications pursuant to the RTKL. The Medical Marijuana Act, as well as the Department's temporary regulations, explicitly provide that permit applications are public records subject to disclosure under the RTKL. See 35 P.S. § 10231.302(b); 28 Pa. Code § 1141.22. Additionally, in the application instructions, the Department advised all applicants to submit redacted and unredacted copies of their applications, stating that the redacted versions of the applications would be posted on the Department's website. As discussed below, the RTKL places a duty to disclose records sought by a requester on the governmental agency, here the Department, unless the records are exempt, privileged, or fall into an exemption under the statute. 65 P.S. §§ 67.706, 708(b).
On July 10, 2017, the Department denied Appellees' RTKL request, in part, referring Appellees to the redacted copies of the GP applications which had been posted on its website, and denied access to the DS applications, which had not yet been posted. As described more fully below, the Department, inter alia, did not independently review the applicants' redactions, but accepted all applicants' redactions that they deemed confidential or proprietary, or otherwise subject to redaction under the RTKL. This resulted in a disparity in redactions across the various applications.
II. Procedural History
A. Office of Open Records
On July 26, 2017, Appellees appealed to the Office of Open Records ("OOR"),
Appellees asserted that the Department lacked a legal basis for its redactions, particularly given the disparity in redactions among applications. Appellees also maintained that the OOR should conduct an in camera review of the records, require the Department to submit a privilege log identifying the reasons why the redacted material was exempt from disclosure, and conduct a hearing so that they could confront any evidence offered by the Department or third-party participants. The OOR invited parties to supplement the record and directed the Department to notify any third parties of their ability to participate in the appeal, 65 P.S. § 67.1101(c), but declined Appellees' request for in camera review.
For its part, the Department notified the Applicants of their right to participate in the proceedings, and all asked to do so. Additionally, the Department submitted a position statement, with a supporting affidavit of Director of the Office of Medical Marijuana John Collins, which described the redactions and the Department's redaction process. Collins explained that the Department redacted only information that the Applicants had marked in their applications as confidential proprietary information; as personal and financial information; or as information related to building and infrastructure security. Collins noted, however, that the Department did not make its own assessment; rather, it relied upon the redacted versions of Applicants' applications due to the sheer volume of records sought in Appellees' request. He also offered that the Department added redactions if necessary, and posted the redacted applications on its public website. As a result, there was disparity in the degree to which individual applications were redacted, with entire sections of applications redacted in some instances, and not in others.
Due to the Department's limited review of the applications, including the fact that
The OOR granted Applicants' request to participate and provided them until December 13, 2017 to submit additional evidence beyond what the Department or Applicants had already submitted. Terrapin timely submitted additional evidence in support of its exemptions, including another brief and four affidavits regarding, inter alia, the confidential nature of its financial information; its infrastructure and physical security; and the maintenance of its trade secrets. Harvest did not initially make additional submissions, but later attempted to submit additional argument and more detailed exemption logs; however, the OOR did not consider the additional submission, finding it to be untimely and unsworn.
In its Final Determination dated January 11, 2018, after noting the "multiple opportunities to submit evidence," OOR Final Determination at 13, the OOR determined that because Mission, KW Ventures, and Harvest did not submit "competent evidence," their submissions did not prove the applicability of any claimed exemptions, id. at 14. As Terrapin and Cresco did submit affidavits in support of their exemptions, the OOR proceeded to the merits of Applicants' arguments. As to Cresco's claim that it performed a public safety or public protection activity, the OOR, after finding a lack of support for Cresco's position and noting its conclusory affidavits, found that Cresco failed to establish that "the operation of a medical marijuana growing and processing facility constitutes a public safety or public protection activity," and, thus, did not fall within the RTKL's exemption for records maintained in connection with law enforcement or public safety activities. Id. at 17 (citing 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(2)). The OOR also found that Cresco did not meet its burden of establishing that its application information (the entire application) was exempt from disclosure as endangering the safety or physical security of Cresco's facility, as a trade secret, or as confidential proprietary information, again noting the conclusory nature of Cresco's affidavits and its mere referencing of general categories of information without explaining how these categories would be exempt from disclosure. Id. at 21-22.
Turning to Terrapin's assertion that certain information contained trade secrets and confidential proprietary information, 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(11), and its affidavits addressing its formulas, methods, growing processes, and techniques, the OOR found that Terrapin had established the economic value of the material sought to be exempt from disclosure as well as the confidential nature of the information, including steps taken to preserve the confidentiality, and, thus, met its burden in proving the information contained trade secrets. However, the OOR found Terrapin did not explain why the description of the type of medical marijuana products that would be produced was a trade secret. OOR Final Determination at 30-31.
Finally, the OOR addressed Terrapin's claim that the entirety of its financial information constituted a trade secret or confidential proprietary information. While noting that Terrapin treated this information as confidential, the OOR rejected Terrapin's assertions for its perceived failure to demonstrate that the disclosure of such material would cause substantial harm to Terrapin's competitive position, how competitors could use the information for their economic enrichment, as well as for failing to provide specific evidence in support of its redactions. Id. at 33.
As to the Department's exemptions, regarding the physical features of a facility, and the security measures installed therein, the OOR found the Department's affidavit and exemption logs submitted in support thereof to be conclusory in nature, and in tension with the exemptions sought by Applicants, noting that it "is unclear how one applicant's response can necessitate the entire redaction of a Section under the regulation, while another's only implicates a few words being redacted." Id. at 49. As such, the OOR concluded that neither the Department nor Applicants met their burden regarding these exemptions.
Ultimately, after considering the evidence submitted — which the OOR found deficient in many respects — the OOR granted Appellees access to most of the information contained in the applications, but allowed exemptions as to Terrapin's trade secrets, and, on constitutional grounds, upheld the redaction of certain of Applicants' personal information, including, dates of birth, drivers license and passport photographs, personal identification numbers, banking account numbers, organ donor status, telephone numbers, email addresses, and residential street addresses.
B. Commonwealth Court
The Department and Applicants filed petitions for review with the Commonwealth Court, asserting various claims of error with respect to, inter alia, the OOR's application of the exemptions under the RTKL to their respective applications.
A unanimous, en banc, Commonwealth Court, reversed in part, affirmed in part, and remanded to the OOR. Mission Pennsylvania, LLC v. McKelvey, 212 A.3d 119 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2019). Preliminarily, the court considered, and ultimately rejected, requests to supplement the record filed by the Department and Mission, finding that the Department and some Applicants were at fault for any alleged inadequacy in the record because they had ample opportunity to submit evidence to the OOR, yet failed to do so sufficiently. Specifically, the court emphasized that, by issuing a stay in this matter, the OOR had given the Department additional time and opportunity to raise any applicable exemptions or to remedy any deficiencies in its review process, but the Department did not do so, instead responding with a submission that was substantially similar to its prior submission. The court further cautioned that allowing the submission of additional evidence at the judicial review stage would undermine the presumption of openness attendant to the RTKL, as doing so would permit agencies to withhold records, without legal ground to do so, until reaching a court. Accordingly, in light of the foregoing considerations, the court denied the requests to supplement the record.
1. Department Deference to Applicants' Redactions
Turning to the merits of the Department's and Applicants' claims, the Commonwealth Court first emphasized that the Medical Marijuana Act expressly provides that permit applications are public records subject to the RTKL; thus, the court stressed that, upon receipt of a request for information, the governmental agency is obliged to assess the public status of the requested records, and disclose such records, unless exempt. The court explained that the burden is on the governmental agency to specify the reasons for denying access to the records, and prove any asserted exemptions, and that the agency, or a third party, must prove a RTKL exemption by a preponderance of the evidence. 65 P.S. § 67.708(a)(1). According to the Commonwealth Court, an agency may not delegate its disclosure duty or burden of proof to a third party, or voluntarily rely on a third party's redactions, even if such third party is best suited to provide the most detailed proof. Thus, the court rejected the Department's contention that it was permissible to rely on Applicants' redactions, and noted that, as a result of the Department's deference, Applicants' level of redaction varied widely.
As an additional preliminary matter, the court underscored that only three parties offered evidence to establish their respective exemptions. The Department
2. Facility Security Exemption
The Commonwealth Court proceeded to examine the OOR's review of the RTKL exemptions.
Further, while the court found it "tempting" "to apply this exemption to all [applicants] to the same extent it applies to Terrapin, it explained that doing so would undermine the evidentiary requirements of the RTKL," as an exemption requires evidence unless the facts are uncontested or clear from the face of the RTKL request or the exemption asserted. Id. at 135. Thus, the court found only security information
Specifically, the court explained, inter alia, that Terrapin's Wenzl Affidavit established that disclosure of specified security information has a reasonable likelihood of endangering the security of facilities engaged in the "legal cannabis industry." Mission Pennsylvania, 212 A.3d at 135 (citing Wenzl Affidavit at ¶ 8). Based on the risks inherent in this cash-based industry, the court determined that disclosure of security measures and locations of surveillance systems presented a credible threat to the security of facilities that amounts to more than mere speculation. As the record taken as a whole contained adequate evidence satisfying the reasonable likelihood requirement, the Commonwealth Court upheld the Department's minimal redactions under Section 708(b)(3) of the RTKL from the applications of Mission, KW Ventures, and Harvest. Moreover, as to Cresco, the court noted that Figone attested that its "application contains detailed descriptions of its security protocols and surveillance systems[,] [s]chematic drawings [that] disclose the location of each of the video surveillance cameras, primary power hook-ups, facility access points, [and] of the vault and other designated highsecurity areas." Id. at 135-36 (emphasis original) (citing Figone Affidavit at ¶ 12). This, according to the court, sufficiently described "schematic drawings" and "detailed descriptions of ... surveillance systems" justifying redaction. Id. at 136. As a result, the court concluded that this information was an allowable redaction from Cresco's application. Thus, the Commonwealth Court reversed the OOR's determination, that no applicant established an exemption under the facility security exemption, and allowed certain redactions pursuant thereto.
3. Trade Secret and Confidential Proprietary Information Exemption
Next, the Commonwealth Court considered the OOR's application of the trade secret and confidential proprietary information exemptions. 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(11). The court determined that the OOR properly applied the trade secret exemption only to Terrapin, and correctly found the confidential proprietary information exemption inapplicable to Applicants. Noting that Applicants each provided varying degrees of evidence in support of their redactions on these grounds, the court separately reviewed the evidence as to each applicant when considering whether they satisfied the exemptions.
With respect to the trade secret exemption, id. § 67.102 (defining "Trade secret"), the court explained that, in order to support the redactions on this ground, Applicants were required to establish that (1) the information they sought to protect derived economic and competitive value from not being generally known to the public;
Finally, as to Applicants' alleged confidential proprietary information, 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(11), the court concluded that none of the Applicants established the exemption. Noting that such information must be privileged or confidential, and that disclosure would cause substantial harm to the parties' competitive position, id. § 67.102 (defining "Confidential proprietary information"), the court emphasized that "[t]he measures undertaken to maintain secrecy of the information are important indicators of its confidential nature." Mission Pennsylvania, 212 A.3d at 137. As none of the Applicants other than Terrapin submitted evidence regarding the steps they took to maintain secrecy, the court determined that they failed to establish the confidential nature of the information. Thus, it only considered the application of the exemption to Terrapin. Id. at 138.
The court pointed out that Terrapin redacted a significant number of pages of information, including all organizational documents, a diversity plan, security information, business history, capital requirements, and community impact. Id. While Terrapin had submitted an affidavit from its Director of Government Affairs, Shawn Coleman ("Coleman Affidavit") as to the confidential nature of its financial information, the court found the Coleman Affidavit to be flawed because it failed to describe the information's contents sufficiently to allow for total redaction. Moreover, the court determined that the Coleman Affidavit described Terrapin's efforts to maintain the confidentiality of "any and all financial information" generally, without alleging any facts to sufficiently establish the confidentiality of the information or describing any of the subject matter Terrapin sought to protect. Id. The Commonwealth Court reasoned that, "[i]n removing all indicators of subject matter, there is no context for evaluating the redacted content;" thus, it concluded that Terrapin did not establish that the redactions were warranted under this exemption. Id.
In sum, the Commonwealth Court reversed the OOR's Final Determination regarding
C. Appeal to this Court
We granted allocatur, limited to three aspects of the RTKL with respect to applications filed pursuant to the Medical Marijuana Act. First, we granted allocatur on an issue raised by the Department as to whether the RTKL, and the Commonwealth Court's approach thereunder, failed to create a workable standard for dealing with "iterative redactions"
III. Analysis
A. Governing Law
As each of the issues on which we granted allocatur requires interpretation of the RTKL and the Medical Marijuana Act, our analysis is governed by the Statutory Construction Act of 1972 ("Statutory Construction Act"). 1 Pa.C.S. §§ 1501-1991. Unlike its federal counterpart, our General Assembly has expressly provided direction regarding how the judiciary is to discern its statutory intent. Pursuant to the Statutory Construction
In addition to the guideposts set by the Statutory Construction Act, an understanding of the Medical Marijuana Act and the RTKL is essential to resolving all three issues before us. Thus, we turn to an overview of these statutes.
As noted above, in 2016, the General Assembly enacted the Medical Marijuana Act. While marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, the legislature made certain uses or possession of medical marijuana, as set forth in the statute, lawful within the Commonwealth. 35 P.S. §§ 10231.303, 10231.304. Through the Medical Marijuana Act, the General Assembly sought to create a "[p]rogram of access to medical marijuana which balances the need of patients to have access to the latest treatments" to mitigate suffering with the need to promote patient safety, provide a safe and effective delivery system, and to promote research into the effectiveness and utility of medical marijuana. Id. § 10231.102(3)(i). In furtherance of these goals, the legislature established a framework for the growing, processing, and dispensing of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Specifically, the Medical Marijuana Act tasks the Department with the implementation and administration of the Act. See id. § 10231.301(a). The Department is charged with issuing DS and GP permits, ensuring medical marijuana businesses comply with the Medical Marijuana Act, and registering practitioners; it also has regulatory and enforcement authority over the growing, processing, sale, and use of medical marijuana. Id. § 10231.301(a)(1-3)(i).
The Act provides for a detailed permit application and renewal process for growers, processors, and distributors. See id. § 10231.601-10231.616. The information required in an application for an initial permit is extensive, and includes, inter alia, financial information, a history of prior activities in the medical marijuana industry, and criminal history record checks of principals, financial backers, operators and employees.
Importantly for purposes of this appeal, with respect to documents filed under the Medical Marijuana Act, including applications, Section 302(b) provides that "[a]pplications for permits submitted by medical marijuana organizations" are "public records and shall be subject to the [RTKL]." 35 P.S. § 10231.302(b)(1). The Department's temporary regulations likewise provided that applications are "public records... subject to disclosure under the [RTKL]." 28 Pa. Code § 1141.22(a).
The RTKL is remedial legislation to facilitate government transparency and promote accountability. Pennsylvania State Police v. Grove, 640 Pa. 1, 161 A.3d 877, 892 (2017); Bowling v. Office of Open Records, 990 A.2d 813, 824 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010) aff'd 621 Pa. 133, 75 A.3d 453 (2013). While enacted in 2008, the 2009 iteration of the statute dramatically expanded the public's access to government documents and demonstrated an intent on the part of the General Assembly to expand government transparency. Levy v. Senate of Pennsylvania,
As to the disclosure requirements of the RTKL, by its express terms, a "Commonwealth agency shall provide public records in accordance with this act." 65 P.S. § 67.301. A record "in the possession of Commonwealth agency ... shall be presumed to be a public record" unless it is exempt under Section 708, privileged, or exempt from disclosure under other federal or state law or judicial order. Id. §§ 67.305(a), 67.701. At the initial request stage, an agency is required to assess the public status of requested records, and, if applicable, specify reasons for denying access with "citation of supporting legal authority." Id. § 67.903. When parts of a record are public — meaning not exempt by another law, privilege or exemption under Section 708(b), id. § 67.708(b) — an agency "shall grant access to" the public parts of the record pursuant to its disclosure duty. Id. § 67.706. Thus, by its plain and unambiguous language, the RTKL places the statutory duty of disclosure solely on the government agency.
Related thereto, the RTKL places the burden on the governmental agency to discern what parts of a record are subject to access and what parts are properly exempt, and, through redaction, disclose those parts subject to access:
Id.
There are, however, statutory exemptions to the presumption of disclosure. Id. § 67.708. While the RTKL provides for numerous exemptions, three Section 708 exemptions are the focus of the matter sub judice: the facility security exemption, the trade secrets exemption, and the confidential proprietary information exemption.
First, with respect to the facility security exemption, records regarding "building plans or infrastructure records that expose or create vulnerability through disclosure of the location, configuration or security of critical systems, including public utility systems, structural elements, technology, communication, electrical, fire suppression, ventilation, water, wastewater, sewage and gas systems" are exempt from disclosure.
Additionally exempt from disclosure is "[a] record that constitutes or reveals a trade secret or confidential proprietary information." 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(11). "Trade secret" is defined as:
Id. at § 67.102. Additionally, "Confidential proprietary information" is defined as:
Id.
With respect to discerning and establishing exemptions, the RTKL provides that "[t]he burden of proving that a record of a Commonwealth agency or local agency is exempt from public access shall be on the Commonwealth agency or local agency receiving a request by a preponderance of the evidence." 65 P.S. § 67.708(a)(1). The RTKL does not allow an agency to delegate its disclosure duty or burden of proof to third parties. Furthermore, it is presumed that Commonwealth agencies will act in good faith in discharging their statutory duties under the RTKL. See Office of Governor v. Donahue, 626 Pa. 437, 98 A.3d 1223, 1239 (2014).
Mindful of the presumption of disclosure of agency records, but that such records may include sensitive information submitted by private parties such as trade secrets and confidential proprietary information, Section 707(b) requires the governmental agency to notify third parties of a request for trade secrets or confidential proprietary information, and gives such parties the opportunity to provide input to, and be notified of, the agency's determination. 65 P.S. § 67.707(b). Moreover, decisional law allows third parties to raise and defend exemptions to protect information that they believe is exempt from disclosure. Commonwealth, Department of Education v. Bagwell, 131 A.3d 638 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2016); Office of the Governor v. Bari, 20 A.3d 634 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011). Further, "agencies are not permitted to waive a third party's interest in protecting the records." Bagwell, 131 A.3d at 650.
With these foundations in hand, we turn to the issues upon which we granted allocatur.
B. Appeal of the Department — RTKL Exemption Standards
The first issue that we will consider, raised by the Department, is whether the
The Department maintains that this is an unworkable standard that forces it to make decisions on highly technical material when it lacks the resources to do so, and, according to the Department, only the individual applicant understands what constitutes a trade secret. Here, the Department allowed all applicants to defend their redactions, and, as the inquiry focuses on whether the information contained a secret of peculiar importance to the business, and of competitive value to the owner, it was the successful applicants who were better suited to object to certain disclosures, rather than the government agency overseeing the industry. The Department complains that governmental agencies face an unfair burden when faced with third-party assertions of a trade secret or proprietary information exemption, as they must make definitive determinations regarding highly technical information without the necessary tools. The Department argues that the Commonwealth Court should have permitted the parties to supplement the record, and asks this Court to remand to the Commonwealth Court with instructions to permit supplementation of the record.
We initially note that Appellees made a request for certain successful applications submitted under the Medical Marijuana Act, which were expressly classified as public records under the terms of that statute, and, thus, subject to the RTKL. Under the plain language of the RTKL, the Department was the agency charged with responding to Appellees' RTKL request, and, as such, bore the sole burden of granting access to that information that was subject to disclosure, and supporting any grounds for denial of any information that was exempt or privileged. That a third party may be best suited to provide the most detailed proof of an exemption does not relieve an agency of its statutory burden.
Based upon the language of the Medical Marijuana Act and the RTKL, we reject any attempt by the Department to shift this burden of analysis, assessment, and either disclosure or redaction to third parties. This is particularly true
Here, the Department did not fulfill its statutory mandate by independently reviewing Applicants' redactions. Indeed, it did not even review the unredacted versions of the applications. Rather, the Department allowed Applicants to redact any information they deemed to be proprietary, confidential, or otherwise subject to redaction, and, as noted above, merely added its own redactions, resulting in widely varying redactions for similar information. Moreover, it created the potential for unreviewed over-redaction. Simply stated, to effectuate the mandate of the RTKL and its underlying purposes, a government agency cannot blindly defer to the determinations of private entities as to what information is exempt from disclosure under the RTKL.
We fully appreciate the magnitude of the task of reviewing Applicants' submissions, including both the difficult job of discerning whether certain information constitutes security-related information, trade secrets, or confidential proprietary information, as well as the voluminous nature of the applications. Furthermore, we are cognizant of the unique nature of the nascent medical marijuana industry in our Commonwealth. Nevertheless, the language of the RTKL is plain and unambiguous, placing the burden and responsibility on the governmental agency to independently evaluate and discern the validity of claimed exemptions to disclosure in the first instance, including those made by third parties. Thus, in responding to a RTKL request, we emphasize that a government agency may not delegate its disclosure duties or defer to the redactions of third parties.
Here, the Department's failure to independently review Applicants' redactions was not in accord with the mandate of the RTKL, neither at the request stage, nor later during the administrative phase before the OOR. Thus, we reject the Department's request to alleviate it of its burden to independently review what records are subject to disclosure, or exempt from release. While the Department indicated that it was deferring to the OOR's fact-finding to determine the propriety of the asserted exemptions, and suggested in camera review or the submission of affidavits, the RTKL simply does not generally permit this type of delegation.
Additionally, we reject the Department's request for supplementation of the record. We note that the Department received numerous opportunities to submit evidence and argument before the OOR, and chose not to take advantage of those opportunities. Indeed, the Department largely failed to take advantage of the stay the OOR issued to allow the Department additional time to review the applications and provide revised responses. Instead of fulfilling its statutory mandate, it notified the OOR that it again did not independently review Applicants' redactions, but was deferring to the OOR. Accordingly, we reject the Department's request to be relieved of its obligations under the RTKL, as well as its request to supplement the record, and affirm the Commonwealth Court's decision in this regard.
C. Appeal of Harvest — Similar Treatment of Applicants
The second issue we consider, raised by Harvest, is whether the Commonwealth Court erred in treating similarly-situated applicants differently on the same record. Harvest suggests that, in cases where, as here, the evidence presented applies industry-wide, the OOR, in the first instance, should have considered the record as a whole when considering exemptions under the RTKL, rather than finding that Applicants are entitled to varying degrees of protection. That is, according to Harvest, despite varied submissions by Applicants, evidence of industry practice should sufficiently support exemptions for all of them. Related thereto, Harvest asserts that public policy supports establishing uniform redactions across the applications in this case, as, otherwise, the Department will be required to comb through thousands of pages of applications just to determine whether a single redaction is appropriate.
In support of its exemptions, Harvest emphasizes that it is not performing a governmental function, and that its relationship with the Department concerns only the submission and approval of its application. Thus, according to Harvest, because third-party information has been submitted to a governmental agency, the RTKL's disclosure requirements should be narrowly construed and its exemptions broadly construed. Harvest continues, contending that the uniquely competitive nature of the medical marijuana industry, as well as the significant effort and funds expended in developing, arranging, and presenting the extensive information in its application, establish that the application itself is a trade secret containing confidential information, even without sworn testimony. Harvest suggests that allowing disclosure of the application would cause it to suffer a substantial competitive disadvantage because competitors could simply copy the information from its application to obtain their own permits. In support thereof, Harvest stresses the measures taken to prevent disclosure of its application, including limiting access, password protected electronic storage of information, and confidentiality agreements for employees, contractors, and other third parties.
Alternatively, Harvest argues that, even if the entire application does not constitute a trade secret, the application nevertheless contains trade secrets as well as confidential proprietary information that is customarily, and actually, treated as private. Thus, Harvest submits that such information should be exempt from disclosure. Harvest also claims that its application contains security information that should be exempt from disclosure under the RTKL. Harvest argues that, despite the Commonwealth Court finding that Terrapin's affidavits supported security-related redactions, it improperly allowed only Terrapin to redact such information. According to Harvest, where consideration of the record as a whole, including industry-wide evidence, would support security-related redactions, then such redactions should be applied uniformly to all applicants, and such security-related information should be uniformly exempt from disclosure.
Finally, Harvest emphasizes that, in cases where the record is insufficient to determine whether the requested material is exempt from disclosure, the Commonwealth Court may permit the parties to supplement the record with additional evidence. Harvest maintains that, due to the unique nature of the medical marijuana industry, as well as the fact that this is a case of first impression, the Commonwealth Court should have permitted the parties to submit additional evidence in support of their redactions. Harvest suggests
Appellees initially contend that, as a general matter, Harvest's assertions regarding the unique nature of the medical marijuana industry do not justify the broad scope of its redactions, and they suggest that such information has already been disclosed to the public via other applications which were redacted far less than the applications at issue in the instant case. Appellees additionally argue that the applications are not exempt in their entirety as trade secrets or confidential proprietary information, as the Medical Marijuana Act explicitly provides that the applications are public and subject to the RTKL. See 35 P.S. § 10231.302(b)(1). In this regard, Appellees maintain that Harvest cannot credibly assert that it intended to keep secret or confidential the entire contents of its application made public by the RTKL. Appellees further emphasize that each Applicant bears the burden of establishing that the contents of their respective applications are exempt. They point out that, while the Commonwealth Court credited Terrapin's affidavit in concluding its processes to cultivate and manufacture marijuana products were trade secrets, such information did not establish that other Applicant's applications, including Harvest's, contained such information. Likewise, Appellees note that the Commonwealth Court held that Terrapin's affidavit established the first prong of the trade secrets exemption for all successful applicants. However, Appellees highlight that the court found that Harvest failed to submit evidence of the competitive value of the information or efforts taken for maintaining its secrecy, and, thus, due to this lack of evidence, the Commonwealth Court properly determined that Harvest did not prove that its redactions constituted trade secrets or confidential proprietary information.
Indeed, Appellees assert that, with respect to Harvest's argument that the Commonwealth Court's opinion treated similarly-situated Applicants differently based on the same record, Appellees maintain that Applicants are responsible for any disparity in the results below, as Harvest redacted dramatically more information than other applicants. Moreover, Appellees point out that Terrapin provided far more detailed evidence than the other applicants, including Harvest, in support of its redactions. Appellees further maintain that there is no basis on which to conclude that Terrapin's evidence represents an entire industry. Additionally, with respect to Harvest's attempt to assert that its information was exempt from disclosure under the confidential proprietary information exemption, Appellees argue that Harvest merely provided an exemption log in support of its claim, which offered no information with respect to how it maintains the confidentiality of the redacted information or the alleged harm resulting from disclosure.
Finally, Appellees maintain that the Commonwealth Court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to allow Applicants to supplement the record because adequate due process was afforded to them during the administrative process before the OOR. Appellees argue that Harvest has offered no legitimate justification why a remand to supplement the record is necessary, and they claim that "[i]t is time to bring an end to the unreasonable three-year delay to access of information in [a]pplications made expressly public by the Act." Appellees' Brief at 28.
Turning to Harvest's assertion that, where evidence contained in the record as a whole implicates the entire industry, it should apply to every applicant, we first note that the governmental agency asserting an exemption bears the burden of proving that exemption applies. See 65 P.S. § 67.901 (placing duty on agency to make determination whether requested record is subject to disclosure). If the agency denies a request asserting an exemption from disclosure, the RTKL provides an opportunity for a third party to defend its claim before the OOR. Id. § 67.1101(c)(1). Related thereto, the agency or third party must prove a RTKL exemption applies "by a preponderance of the evidence." Id. § 67.708(a)(1). Thus, again by its terms, the RTKL places the burden of disclosure, or proving an exemption from disclosure, on the governmental agency and individual third parties. Additionally, we find nothing in the RTKL that would mandate in every circumstance the collective use of information to establish an exemption. Moreover, such a collective use requirement would be contrary to legal processes in general, which require parties to offer competent evidence to establish their claims.
Rather than mandating application of all record evidence for each alleged exemption, we believe that it is within the discretion of the OOR or the Commonwealth Court to give broader significance to the record as a whole when it relates to industry-wide issues. Indeed, in this matter, the Commonwealth Court applied certain information used by one applicant to satisfy a requirement for an exemption for every applicant, and for other requirements found individualized support was necessary. Specifically, as the Commonwealth Court explained, three parties submitted evidence to prove their asserted exemptions: the Department, Cresco, and Terrapin. As noted above, the Department submitted an affidavit and logs, Cresco submitted an affidavit, and Terrapin submitted multiple affidavits. By contrast, KW Ventures, Harvest, and Mission did not submit evidence. Thus, the Commonwealth Court concluded, as a general matter, that the redactions of these latter entities' applications were unsubstantiated, except to the extent the proffered evidence applied to every applicant.
Even more to the point, regarding the facility security exemption, the Commonwealth Court noted that, while certain parties failed to submit evidence, the Department's logs, as well as the record as a whole contained dangers unique to the medical marijuana industry, and, thus, applied
Conversely, with respect to the trade secret exemption, the court determined that the OOR properly applied the trade secret exemption only to Terrapin, and correctly found the confidential proprietary information exemption inapplicable to every applicant. Rather than rejecting outright any exemption by those applicants who offered no evidence to substantiate their exemptions, the court reviewed the evidence as to each applicant when considering whether they satisfied the exemptions. With respect to the trade secret exemption, the court, finding Terrapin's presentation to be exemplary, determined that its affidavits sufficiently established that the processes described therein were trade secrets, and extended that record evidence to similar processes described by the other applications. Thus, the court concluded that the affidavits submitted by Terrapin satisfied the first prong of the trade secret exemption for every applicant. Nevertheless, the court concluded that only Terrapin could avail itself of the exemption because it was the only party that submitted evidence of its reasonable efforts to maintain the secrecy of its processes, a necessary second component in establishing trade secret status — and requiring individualized assessment. Accordingly, the court affirmed the OOR's application of the trade secrets exemption to only Terrapin. Similarly, as to Applicants' alleged exemption for confidential proprietary information, the court concluded that none of the Applicants established the exemption, emphasizing that "[t]he measures undertaken to maintain secrecy of the information are important indicators of its confidential nature." Id. at 137. This assessment, consistent with court's trade secret analysis, required individualized evidence of each applicant's efforts in this regard. Id. As no applicant other than Terrapin submitted evidence regarding these steps to maintain secrecy, the applicants other than Terrapin failed to establish the confidential nature of the information.
In light of the above, we hold that the Commonwealth Court properly analyzed the exemptions to disclosure under the RTKL, and did not abuse its discretion in finding certain information to be industry-wide in nature, and, thus, applicable to all applicants, and other information to be applicant-specific, necessitating individualized assessment. This is especially true with respect to efforts to maintain the secrecy of information, which would necessarily differ by applicant. These are individualized determinations, which the Commonwealth Court properly recognized required individualized evidence to support.
While the RTKL does not prohibit the use of industry-wide information to support an exemption for similarly-situated individuals, it also does not mandate its use in all instances. Indeed, to adopt Harvest's approach would place the primary burden on the OOR or the Commonwealth Court to discern the applicability of evidence to similarly-situated entities, and would stand on its head the burden the RTKL places on the agency and individual third parties to establish exemptions from disclosure. Related thereto, we reject the assertion that requiring individualized proof of exemption, especially with respect to security, would jeopardize and harm the public. Rather, requiring individual applicants to meet their burden upholds the plain language of the RTKL and the Medical Marijuana Act. Here, Harvest offered no evidence; yet, it benefitted from certain industry-wide evidence, through the introduction of evidence of others, in support of
Finally, we reject Harvest's request for a remand for additional fact-finding. The Commonwealth Court properly determined that it is the parties' burden to submit evidence to establish material facts. To the extent Harvest believes that the record is inadequate, we find that it had a full opportunity to participate in the proceedings and to provide evidence and argument to the OOR. Indeed, the OOR allowed Harvest additional time to do so after Appellees highlighted the deficiencies in the Department's and Applicants' prior submissions, yet only Terrapin offered additional proofs. Harvest offered no reason for neglecting to submit its own evidence. While the Commonwealth Court or the OOR may permit the introduction of additional evidence, conduct a hearing, or engage in in camera review of information, herein, we find the OOR allowed for ample notice, time, and opportunity for Harvest to develop its record in support of its claim of exemptions. Id. at 130.
We observe that allowing evidence to be supplemented at each stage of the proceedings undercuts the RTKL's goals of openness and providing expedient access to information. To allow a party to initially withhold evidence, but then introduce new evidence at later stages of the proceedings, would significantly delay the disclosure of often time-sensitive information, as well as frustrate the underlying policy of the RTKL. Thus, we conclude that the Commonwealth Court did not abuse its discretion in declining to permit Harvest to provide supplemental evidence or to remand to OOR to reopen the record.
D. Appeal of Terrapin — Confidential and Proprietary Information
Finally, we address the issue raised by Terrapin as to whether the Commonwealth Court, in considering whether the financial information submitted in an application under the Medical Marijuana Act was confidential and proprietary, erred by disregarding evidence of competitive harm and the significant security issues associated with the disclosure of financial information in the cash-based medical marijuana industry.
Initially, Terrapin stresses that the medical marijuana industry is atypical. Terrapin explains that, under the federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq., the cultivation, possession, and distribution of marijuana is illegal. As a consequence of the federal restrictions on the use of marijuana, the industry, which is legal in various states, like Pennsylvania, is cash-based. Because marijuana is illegal at the federal level, the United States Department of the Treasury and Department of Justice have provided guidance to financial institutions that service state marijuana businesses. Terrapin offers that the federal guidelines for financial institutions address public safety concerns for cash operating businesses. To comply with these guidelines, financial institutions that deal with the marijuana industry have compliance protocols for their customers' due diligence and "Suspicious Activity Reporting for `verified lawful transactions of a medical marijuana business and ongoing customer monitoring for business compliance.'" Terrapin Brief at 15 (quoting Coleman Affidavit at ¶ 19). Terrapin thus argues that the financial information submitted in its application falls within the confidential proprietary information and safety and security information exemptions to disclosure under the RTKL. According to Terrapin, it presented
Specifically, Terrapin emphasizes that the financial information that it submitted to the Department does not deal with the Department's receipt or disbursement of funds, or with the Department's acquisition, use, or disposal of services, supplies, materials, equipment, or property, which would be subject to disclosure. Thus, Terrapin contends, the information is not a "financial record" under the RTKL.
Terrapin further contends that it presented substantial and uncontested evidence to the OOR in the form of its Coleman Affidavit, noted above, detailing competitive and security concerns with respect to disclosure of its financial information, including that Terrapin has developed unique industry-specific business practices that were proprietary in nature. Terrapin also submits that the Coleman Affidavit explained that, because the medical marijuana industry is entirely cash-based, Terrapin must maintain strict confidentiality with regard to its financial and security protocols in order to protect the stability of its banking services, and protect against robbery and injury to its staff and customers. Moreover, Terrapin adds that it has put measures into place to ensure the confidentiality of its financial information. Thus, Terrapin asserts that it established that its financial information was exempt as confidential proprietary information, 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(11), and as implicating security concerns, id. § 67.708(b)(3).
Terrapin criticizes the OOR for considering only whether Terrapin had presented evidence that its financial information was confidential and disregarding its evidence related to security concerns as "not relevant to the exception at hand." OOR Final Determination at 33. While recognizing that the Commonwealth Court below found that the evidence supporting the confidential proprietary information and safety and security information exemption under the RTKL may be intertwined, Terrapin
As noted above, Appellees reject any sweeping assertions regarding the cash-based nature of the medical marijuana business as allowing for extensive redactions, and emphasize that the applications are not exempt in their entirety as trade secrets or confidential proprietary information, as the Medical Marijuana Act explicitly provides that the applications are public and subject to the RTKL. Additionally, Appellees underscore that Applicants bear the burden of establishing that the contents of their applications are exempt, and submit that Terrapin did not prove that its financial information constituted confidential proprietary information falling within the exemption. Specifically, Appellees note that, to establish the existence of confidential proprietary information, Terrapin needed to establish actual competition in the relevant market and a likelihood of substantial injury upon the release of the information. According to Appellees, the Commonwealth Court routinely upholds exemptions for trade secrets and confidential proprietary information when a third party submits an affidavit to the OOR with facts supporting each element of the exemption. Appellees maintain that Terrapin did not meet its burden in this regard, as the fact that the medical marijuana industry is extremely competitive does not, by itself, substantiate Terrapin's extensive redactions.
Initially, we reject Terrapin's assertion that its financial information is not a "financial record" and, thus, not subject to disclosure under the RTKL. Again, by its clear terms, the Medical Marijuana Act provides that "[a]pplications for permits submitted by medical marijuana organizations" are "public records and shall be subject to the [RTKL]." 35 P.S. § 10231.302(b)(1). Thus, regardless of whether the information contained therein also constitutes a "financial record" under the RTKL, applications are, by definition, public records for purposes of the RTKL.
Furthermore, the OOR disclosed the information without conducting in camera review or otherwise evaluating the basis of the claimed exemption. Rather than considering both the confidential nature of the financial information and the safety and security concerns regarding its disclosure, the OOR rejected any safety and security concerns, finding they were "not relevant to the exemption at hand." OOR Final Determination at 33. Similarly, we conclude that the Commonwealth Court failed to appreciate the security-related reasons for exemption of Terrapin's financial information from disclosure. While the burden is on the governmental agency or the third-party entities to raise and defend all of their proffered exemptions from disclosure, once a party raises and supports an exemption, it is the duty of the OOR, and then the Commonwealth Court, to review the various proffered reasons for nondisclosure and determine their validity, based upon a preponderance of the evidence.
Related thereto, in ACLU, supra, we recently explained that, under the RTKL, the reviewing court — here, the Commonwealth Court — is the ultimate finder of fact, enjoys the broadest scope of review, and retains plenary authority to expand the record beyond that developed before the OOR. ACLU, 232 A.3d at 663-64. Indeed, we emphasized the availability of in camera review as a valuable tool to discern the propriety of a claimed exemption to disclosure, and that our Court has
We find that, after Terrapin supported its proffered exemptions regarding disclosure of confidential financial information, citing to competitive harm and security implications with affidavit and argument — indeed, in a presentation the Commonwealth Court found to be exemplary — it was incumbent upon the OOR, and, ultimately, the Commonwealth Court, to consider the alleged exemptions applicable to such financial information, to review the information at issue — in camera if beneficial — and to fully consider the reasons proffered to support exemption from disclosure. See id. at 669-70; Office of Open Records v. Center Township, 95 A.3d 354, 367 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014) (noting authority of OOR to conduct in camera review to render a reasoned decision); Office of the Governor v. Bari, 20 A.3d 634, 648 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011) (offering that OOR should "take all necessary precautions" including in camera review, when considering a claim of confidential proprietary information). Thus, we find that the lower tribunals' failure to do so constituted an abuse of discretion.
As a result, we hold that the OOR and the Commonwealth Court did not appreciate the potentially intertwined nature of confidential financial information and safety and security information in the medical marijuana industry, and did not fully consider whether Terrapin's assertions regarding its financial information satisfied the confidential proprietary information and facility security exemptions. Accordingly, we remand to the Commonwealth Court for reconsideration of this matter.
IV. Conclusion
Thus, for the above-stated reasons, we affirm the Commonwealth Court's decision in two aspects. First, in light of the plain language of the RTKL, we agree the court properly rejected the Department's request to be relieved of its obligations to review all requests and determine what parts of a record are subject to disclosure and what parts are subject to redaction, as well as its request to supplement the record. Second, we agree the court properly rejected Harvest's contention that, because it is not performing a governmental function, the RTKL's disclosure requirements should be narrowly construed, and its exemptions broadly construed, and its assertion that its entire application should be deemed to be exempt from disclosure. Additionally, we find that the Commonwealth Court properly considered Harvest's claimed exemptions to disclosure under the RTKL, and did not abuse its discretion in finding certain information to be industry-wide in nature, and, thus, applicable to all applicants, including Harvest, and other information to be applicant-specific, necessitating individualized assessment.
We vacate, however, the Commonwealth Court's decision with respect to Terrapin's claim that it presented sufficient evidence that detailed competitive and security concerns with respect to disclosure of its financial information. We find that, after Terrapin supported its proffered exemptions regarding the disclosure of confidential financial information, citing to competitive harm and security implications with affidavit and argument, it was incumbent upon the OOR, and, ultimately, the Commonwealth Court, to consider the alleged exemptions applicable to such financial information. Additionally, we find that it was necessary for the OOR, and ultimately, the Commonwealth Court, to review the information at issue — in camera if prudent — and to consider fully the reasons proffered by Terrapin to support its claimed exemptions from disclosure. Thus, we remand this matter regarding Terrapin to the
Accordingly, we affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand for proceedings consistent with our decision today. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Chief Justice Baer and Justices Saylor, Donohue, Wecht and Mundy join the opinion.
Justice Dougherty files a concurring opinion.
JUSTICE DOUGHERTY, concurring.
I agree substantially with the majority's careful unravelling of the thorny and intertwined issues before us in this case. Specifically, I fully join the majority's analysis with the sole exception of its discussion of financial information in Section (III)(D). Although I concur with the majority's resulting vacatur and remand of the issue with instructions for the lower tribunals, as well as its encouragement of the use of in camera review, see Majority Opinion at 412-14, I write separately to underscore a particular feature of the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104, as this Court has interpreted it which, though overlooked by the parties and the lower tribunals, nevertheless impacts proper review of Terrapin's financial information in this case. I believe it poses a plausible conflict between the majority's analysis and our decision in Dep't of Pub. Welfare v. Eiseman, 633 Pa. 366, 125 A.3d 19 (Pa. 2015).
In the forefront of its analysis of this issue, the majority flatly rejects Terrapin's assertion the financial information contained in its application is not a "financial record" as the term is defined under the RTKL. See Majority Opinion at 411. In doing so, the majority views whether Terrapin's financial information also constitutes a "financial record" under the RTKL as immaterial because, pursuant to the Medical Marijuana Act, all permit applications are by definition "public records" subject to the RTKL. See id.; 35 P.S. § 10231.302(b)(1). However, although RTKL-defined "financial records" are one category of "public records" subject to disclosure, see 65 P.S. § 67.102 (definition of "public record" includes "a financial record"),
As the majority describes, RTKL subsection 708(b) enumerates specific exceptions which, if their criteria are met, exempt a presumed-public record from disclosure; these provisions include the exemptions claimed by Terrapin to support redaction of the financial information in their application, i.e., the facility security exemption described in subsection 708(b)(3), and the confidential proprietary information exemption described in subsection 708(b)(11). See Majority Opinion at 400-01; 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(3), (11). However, the exemptions listed in subsection 708(b) only apply "[e]xcept as provided in subsections (c) and (d)," and subsection (c) curtails the extent to which the exemptions apply to financial records. 65 P.S. § 67.708(b), (c). In relevant part, subsection
Notably, and relevant to this case, pursuant to RTKL subsection 708(c), a financial record may be redacted if its disclosure creates a reasonable likelihood of endangering facility safety as provided in subsection 708(b)(3),
To that end, the RTKL defines a "financial record" as "[a]ny of the following:"
65 P.S. § 67.102 (emphasis added). In Eiseman, we explained the term "financial record" was not limited to an agency's records of its own transactions, but also included records "dealing with" the agency's monetary disbursements via its contractors performing delegated governmental functions. See Eiseman, 125 A.3d at 29 ("`financial records' encompass records `dealing with' disbursements of public money and services acquisitions by agencies"); id. at 32 (records submitted to government agency for approval "which embody a delegation (albeit a downstream delegation) of a governmental function" are records "`dealing with' the agency's monetary disbursements and services acquisitions"). Here, Terrapin is a third-party permit applicant, not a contractor or subcontractor performing any delegated government function. In addition, as the majority relates, medical marijuana permit
Accordingly, in my view, Terrapin's claim the financial information contained in its permit application is not a "financial record" as defined by the RTKL has some merit. Yet, as the majority concludes, and I agree, absent integral fact-finding by the lower tribunals, we are constrained to remand the issue of whether the information could properly be redacted under RTKL subsection 708(b)(3) or (11). However, for the foregoing reasons, I view a determination of whether the financial information constitutes a "financial record" as an integral preliminary step to implementing the majority's directive "to review the information at issue — in camera if prudent — and to consider fully the reasons proffered by Terrapin to support its claimed exemptions from disclosure." Majority Opinion at 413.
FootNotes
(1) Verification of all principals, operators, financial backers or employees of a medical marijuana grower/processor or dispensary.
(2) A description of responsibilities as a principal, operator, financial backer or employee.
(3) Any release necessary to obtain information from governmental agencies, employers and other organizations.
(4) A criminal history record check. Medical marijuana organizations applying for a permit shall submit fingerprints of principals, financial backers, operators and employees to the Pennsylvania State Police for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record checks and the Pennsylvania State Police or its authorized agent shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity of the principals, financial backers, operators and employees and obtaining a current record of any criminal arrests and convictions. Any criminal history record information relating to principals, financial backers, operators and employees obtained under this section by the department may be interpreted and used by the department only to determine the principal's, financial backer's, operator's and employee's character, fitness and suitability to serve as a principal, financial backer, operator and employee under this act. This paragraph shall not apply to an owner of securities in a publicly traded corporation if the department determines that the owner of the securities is not substantially involved in the activities of the medical marijuana organization.
(5) Details relating to a similar license, permit or other authorization obtained in another jurisdiction, including any suspensions, revocations or discipline in that jurisdiction.
(6) A description of the business activities in which it intends to engage as a medical marijuana organization.
(7) A statement that the applicant:
(i) Is of good moral character. For purposes of this subparagraph, an applicant shall include each financial backer, operator, employee and principal of the medical marijuana organization.
(ii) Possesses the ability to obtain in an expeditious manner the right to use sufficient land, buildings and other premises and equipment to properly carry on the activity described in the application and any proposed location for a facility.
(iii) Is able to maintain effective security and control to prevent diversion, abuse and other illegal conduct relating to medical marijuana.
(iv) Is able to comply with all applicable Commonwealth laws and regulations relating to the activities in which it intends to engage under this act.
(8) The name, residential address and title of each financial backer and principal of the applicant. Each individual, or lawful representative of a legal entity, shall submit an affidavit with the application setting forth:
(i) Any position of management or ownership during the preceding 10 years of a controlling interest in any other business, located inside or outside this Commonwealth, manufacturing or distributing controlled substances.
(ii) Whether the person or business has been convicted of a criminal offense graded higher than a summary offense or has had a permit relating to medical marijuana suspended or revoked in any administrative or judicial proceeding.
(9) Any other information the department may require.
35 P.S. § 10231.602.
First, with respect to Terrapin's petition for allowance of appeal, our Court limited our grant of allocatur to a single question: "In considering whether financial information submitted in a medical marijuana application was `confidential and proprietary,' whether the Commonwealth Court erred in disregarding substantial evidence of `competitive harm' and of the significant security issues associated with disclosure of financial information in a unique cash-based business." McKelvey v. Mission Pennsylvania, LLC, 224 A.3d 1089, 1089-1090 (Pa. 2020) (order). Thus, the sole question on which we granted allocatur was largely one of the sufficiency of the evidence, and not the distinct issue of whether the financial information in question constituted "financial records" under the RTKL. Appellees did not raise the question of whether the financial information, included as part of Terrapin's application, constituted "financial records," and they have not claimed that Terrapin's financial information is comprised of "financial records," which would, in turn, limit the scope of Terrapin's claimed exemptions. Terrapin, for its part, as noted above in the context of the broader issue of the disclosure of public records, contends its financial information does not constitute "financial records" under the RTKL, and Appellees do not dispute Terrapin's asserted status of its financial information. Related thereto, there is no suggestion in the lower tribunal's determinations that Terrapin's financial information constitutes "financial records" which limit Terrapin's claimed exemptions. Thus, based upon our limited grant of allocatur, the argument of the parties, and the lower tribunals' decisions, the only relevant issue before our Court is whether Terrapin offered substantial evidence in support of its claimed exemptions. We have answered that singular question today and have remanded for further proceedings.
Additionally, and contrary to the concurrence's assertion, we in no way are suggesting that Terrapin's financial information constitutes a "financial record." Concurring Opinion at 414-16. Rather, we are merely rejecting Terrapin's broader suggestion that, because its financial information is not a "financial record," such information is globally not subject to disclosure under the RTKL. As noted above, this information is part of Terrapin's application, which, by the plain terms of the Medical Marijuana Act, constitutes a public record that is subject to the RTKL. 35 P.S. § 10231.302(b)(1).
Thus, while Justice Dougherty's analysis of the exemptions available regarding "financial records" is well taken, our statutory analysis is consistent with the issue on which we granted allocatur, the positions of the parties, and the treatment of this litigation by the lower tribunals.
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