A nonprofit in Nevada dedicated to defending the rights of seniors is considering taking their case concerning mediation records in a series of foreclosures in that state to the Supreme Court after a Nevada court denied their request to review the sealed records.  At issue is the State’s Foreclosure Mediation Program and the opinion of two Nevada courts that the Judicial Branch of government is not technically a “government entity” subject to the State’s Public Records Act.

Nevada has seen more foreclosures than any other U.S. State since 2008, and the Foreclosure Mediation Program was intended to speed up the foreclosure negotiation process and help more people retain ownership of their homes.  Civil Rights for Seniors contends that many of the foreclosures at issue were not properly filed and were missing paperwork, and seek access to the mediation records to prove their claims.

After the Nevada Supreme Court upheld a lower court opinion that court records were not subject to the State’s Public Records Act, Civil Rights for Seniors’ Board of Directors immediately empowered their attorney to file an appeal with the Supreme Court.  No action has yet been taken as the group coordinates with its national organization on the suit.