How difficult is to verify if those documents are real or fake? e.g. if journalist has a case number can they access some kind of judicial database and look into case file? how much would he be able to see in a case like this.. are documents of settlements like these fully redaacted or you can see some portions of doc (e.g. participants of the deal/settlement/trial).
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Depends on whether or not the records in question can be accessed by a FOIA request. If not, case number or no, you won’t get anywhere unless you have an inside man. In the case of documents available through FOIA request, redactions are usually only made for matters of national security, or to protect minors, stuff like that. So, in those cases what you get should be pretty open.
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