Lists of civil lawsuits brought against Austin PD
| Submitted | Sept. 2, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act , I hereby request the following records:
Copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents created or updated since Jan. 1, 2009 by the Law Department that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department. This should include any documentation mechanism your department uses to track lawsuits. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department.
This request should be construed to include documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as documents or databases that contain responsive information over a longer time span.
I request that all fees be waived for this request because I am a journalist -- employed by the Boston Globe and MuckRock -- and intend to use the requested information to educate the public.
I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: Austin
Dear Todd Feathers,
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
From: Del Bosque, Eloy
Mr. Feathers,
The City of Austin has received your public information request.
In order to process your request, please clarify your request as it pertains to the following:
lawsuits brought against the city's police department Please clarify as lawsuits are only brought against the City of Austin or individual officers.
Copies of all reports, lists, databases.. Please clarify databases.
Please respond with a clarification to your request below at your earliest convenience.
If you have any questions regarding the message please let me know.
Thank you,
Eloy Del Bosque
PIR Team
Law Department
City of Austin
512-974-1338
Eloy.delbosque@austintexas.gov<mailto:Eloy.delbosque@austintexas.gov>
Copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents created or updated since Jan. 1, 2009 by the Law Department that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department. This should include any documentation mechanism your department uses to track lawsuits. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department.
This request should be construed to include documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as documents or databases that contain responsive information over a longer time span.
From: Todd Feathers
Eloy,
With regards to your request for clarification:
I would like a list of all lawsuits brought against the city of Austin due to actions actually or allegedly taken by the police department or its officers. Please include in that list all lawsuits brought against individual or multiple police officers.
I have filed this same request with other cities, and they have been able to search their internal tracking systems for tort and civil rights lawsuits involving their police departments. Obviously, your system may be different from theirs so please don't hesitate to call or email me if you need further clarification.
Best,
Todd Feathers
608-698-5806
From: Riley, Catherine
Mr. Feathers,
I've seen your clarification to your open records request dated September 2, 2014. I wanted to confirm that you are only requesting lists of information. Please confirm to me in writing by replying to this email. Thank you.
Catherine Riley
Paralegal
City of Austin Law Department
From: Todd Feathers
Catherine,
Yes, I am only requesting lists of information, not the cases themselves.
Thank you again for your help,
Todd Feathers
From: Riley, Catherine
Mr. Feathers,
Attached please find information responsive to your open records request dated September 2, 2014. Thank you.
Catherine Riley
Paralegal
City of Austin Law Department
From: Todd Feathers
Ms. Riley,
Thank you so much for your help with this. I'm sorry to do this now -- i should have asked in the original request -- but would it be possible for me to obtain a copy of the same list but with the disposition (settlement/judgement amounts) for each of the cases?
I know this is a pain, so if you would like me to submit a new request instead please say so.
Again, thank you so much.
Todd Feathers
From: Riley, Catherine
Mr. Feathers,
Could you please request the additional information as a new open records request? If you want to email it to me I can forward it to the appropriate place. Thank you.
From:
Dear Todd Feathers,
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
From: Riley, Catherine
Dear Mr. Feathers,
We are currently working on the responsive information to your open records request dated September 18, 2014. I should have something to you tomorrow. Thank you.
Catherine
Catherine Riley
Paralegal
City of Austin, Law Department
301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701
From: Riley, Catherine
Mr. Feathers,
Attached please find information responsive to your open records request dated September 18, 2014. Thank you.
Catherine Riley
Paralegal
City of Austin, Law Department
301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701
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