Agency Settlements (Austin Law Departent)

Dear Beryl Lipton,
Thank you for your e-mail to the City of Austin. Your request is being processed.
Consistent with the Texas Public Information Act, you can expect communication from the City of Austin within 10 business days after the date the information was requested.
The City of Austin will make the effort to ensure that the information you have requested is made available to you in a timely manner. However, depending on the scope of the request and the time required to research and compile the information, should the City of Austin not be readily able to produce the information you have requested, the communication you receive may indicate items such as:
Thus, please note that the communication you can expect to receive does not necessarily mean responsive information you have requested will be available within the 10 business days.
For more information about the Public Information Act visit the City of Austin website at http://www.austintexas.gov/department/open-records (http://www.austintexas.gov/department/open-records)

Thank you,
PIO Public Information Specialist

Hello,

This email is in regards to your public information request (PIR 38059) for the following:

"Absolutely any and all logs, reports, spreadsheets, databases, or other materials detailing all settlements or similar dispute resolutions to which this agency, or any division thereof, was a party, including, but not limited to, all conciliatory agreements related to complaints or court or legal proceedings against any representative of or office of this agency.

Please include all available segregable data, including the entities involved, the date on which the initial complaint or court action was brought, the nature of the charge or complaint, the nature of the dispute resolution (i.e. in-court, out-of-court, in-agency mediation, third-party, etc.), any financial agreements associated with the settlement, and the date on which the case was closed. Please provide all available materials from January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2017."

Before moving forward, we need to ask for clarification regarding your request. Specifically, are you willing to exclude attorney-client privileged material and attorney work product privileged material from your request?

Your input will help expedite processing your request. Please respond to this email within 60 calendar days or your request will be considered closed.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
Paralegal
City of Austin Law Department
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, Texas 78767
512-974-2268

Hello,

This email is in regards to your public information request outlined in my previous email below. We need to ask for additional clarification regarding your request because, as it is currently written, your request is quite broad and may result in a substantial cost estimate. Specifically, "...all settlements or similar dispute resolutions" for the timeframe of "January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2017" is quite broad. Are you requesting settlement information regarding a particular subject matter(s)?

Please respond to this email within 60 calendar days or your request will be considered closed.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
(512) 974-6375

Hello,

This email is in regards to your public information request outlined in my previous email below. We need to ask for additional clarification regarding your request because, as it is currently written, your request is quite broad and may result in a substantial cost estimate. Specifically, "...all settlements or similar dispute resolutions" for the timeframe of "January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2017" is quite broad. Are you requesting settlement information regarding a particular subject matter(s)?

Please respond to this email within 60 calendar days or your request will be considered closed.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
(512) 974-6375

Hello,

This email is in regards to your public information request outlined in my previous email below. We need to ask for additional clarification regarding your request because, as it is currently written, your request is quite broad and may result in a substantial cost estimate. Specifically, "...all settlements or similar dispute resolutions" for the timeframe of "January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2017" is quite broad. Are you requesting settlement information regarding a particular subject matter(s)?

Please respond to this email within 60 calendar days or your request will be considered closed.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
(512) 974-6375

Hello,

This email is in regards to your public information request outlined in my previous email below. We need to ask for additional clarification regarding your request because, as it is currently written, your request is quite broad and may result in a substantial cost estimate. Specifically, "...all settlements or similar dispute resolutions" for the timeframe of "January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2017" is quite broad. Are you requesting settlement information regarding a particular subject matter(s)?

Please respond to this email within 60 calendar days or your request will be considered closed.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
(512) 974-6375

Hi, Beryl,

Thank you for sending that email. We cannot extend the requested timeframe beyond the date of your clarification, but, in this instance, we can extend it to the date you clarified your request.

I have one more question regarding your request. It's possible some of the responsive information might include matters involving allegations of sexual harassment discrimination. Are you willing to accept that information with the complainants' names redacted? Please let me know at your earliest convenience. Thank you!

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
(512) 974-6375

Dear Mr. Lipton,

Attached is a cover letter and responsive documentation. A request for an Attorney General ruling has also been submitted today for some of the information responsive to your request. A copy of that letter has been sent to your physical mailing address.

Sincerely,

Allen Smiley
Paralegal
Law Department

Hi, Beryl,

Happy New Year. Please find attached to this email a courtesy copy of the response to your Open Records Request to the City of Austin. The City of Austin previously attempted to send the attached letter to you by mail on December 12, 2017. That letter was recently returned to the City as undeliverable.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
City of Austin Law Department
(512) 974-6375

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

Hello,

The number referenced within your email below is the number assigned by the Texas Attorney General to their decision regarding information requested in your open records request to the City of Austin (PIR 38059). Their office typically sends a copy of their decision to the mailing address provided within the original letter. I've attached an electronic copy in case you did not receive a copy of their decision.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
(512) 974-6375

Hello,

Thanks you for sending your follow-up email. I apologize, but I am not sure what you are requesting since our office has provided a response to your request, as well as the decision issued by the Texas Attorney General's Office. Please contact me at the number listed below to discuss further.

Respectfully,
Loren Doyen
City of Austin Law Department
(512) 974-6375