Boston Corporation Counsel tracking of legal defenses
| Submitted | Dec. 7, 2013 |
| Est. Completion | None |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Shawn Musgrave
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
Lists, spreadsheets or other document(s) compiling and detailing lawsuits (including settlements and resolution of suits) in which the City of Boston defended the City of Boston or its departments, subdivisions and employees, including resolution of suits, time and money dedicated to those defenses, etc. Please include the above for years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 to date.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. 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,
Shawn Musgrave
From: Susan Weise
Please see attached list of all disposed cases from the City of Boston Law
Department since January 1, 2010.
The City of Boston attorneys do not count billable hours
The cost of outside counsel in any of these cases will need to be reviewed
and billed to you separately as this will necessitate a case by case and
contract review. The estimate for this work will be approximately
$200-$250. Please let us know if you want us to proceed with this request.
All cases handled separately by the Boston Public School Legal Advisor and
the Boston Police Department Legal Advisor will be sent to you separately.
Susan Weise
First Assistant Corporation Counsel
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Goodelman <jacob.goodelman@boston.gov>
Date: Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 11:36 AM
Subject: Muckrock.com Public Records Request
To: Susan Weise <susan.weise@boston.gov>
Hi Susan,
Attached is the Public Records Request for Muckrock.com. Thank you.
--
Jacob Goodelman
Paralegal
City of Boston Law Department
City Hall, Rm 615
(T) 617-635-4071
(F) 617-635-3199
-
Muckrock Research (2)
From: Shawn Musgrave
Ms. Weise,
Thank you for sending. What are the BPS and BPD legal contact email addresses, for direct followup?
I will submit a separate request for outside counsel charges -- this spreadsheet itself fulfills BCC's portion of this request.
Thank you!
Best,
Shawn
From: Susan Weise
aocasio@bostonpublicschools.org - Ali Ocasio - Legal Advisor to Boston
Public Schools
amy.ambarik@pd.boston.gov - Amy Ambarik, Legal Advisor to Boston Police
Department
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello,
Per the below message from Ms. Weisse of the BCC, each of you will respond directly for Boston Public Schools and the Boston Police Department. Please confirm.
Best,
Shawn
From: Amy Ambarik
Shawn,
All BPD Media requests must go through our media relations office. I have
cc'ed Sgt. McCarthy on this. Information will be provided to Sgt.
McCarthy, and his staff will handle response to you directly..
Thanks.
From: Shawn Musgrave
Sgt. McCarthy,
Per email from Ms. Weisse of the Boston Corporation Counsel, this request has already been referred to BPD Legal. Please confirm.
Best,
Shawn
From: Mike McCarthy
Shawn,
As you are aware, requests from the media must come through my office. BPD
now has the request and will put together an estimate for your
consideration. I will notify you accordingly.
Sgt. McCarthy
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello all,
Thank you for confirming that this request is in process at both BPD and BPS. I would note that the Boston Law Department completed this request free of charge and forwarded it on to BPD and BPS for their particular cases.
Best,
Shawn
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 7, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Mike McCarthy
Hello Gentlemen,
I am just following up on our discussions from last weeks meetings. First,
thanks again for taking time to come and discuss the issues with us. I am
sure things will move much smoother now. Second, I was hoping to get some
sort of list from Michael or Shawn on their outstanding FOIA's. Please let
me know when I can expect that updated list.
Thanks again,
Mike McCarthy
--
Sergeant Michael P. McCarthy
Director, Office of Media Relations
617-343-4520
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 7, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 7, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 7, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Mike McCarthy
Shawn
Is there any reason why this continues? I see a response from the
city law department to your request below. Please correct. Thank you.
Sgt McCarthy
Sent from my iPhone
From: Shawn Musgrave
Sgt. McCarthy --
As you can see in the email chain below, this request was forwarded to BPD Legal many weeks ago, and I have yet to receive any reply or additional documents. Please let me know if you did not receive the referral from the city law department.
This was one of the requests that I highlighted in the list I provided, a number of which remain outstanding.
-Shawn
From: Mike McCarthy
My apologies. I will follow up and let you know.
Sgt McCarthy.
Sent from my iPhone
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 7, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Mike McCarthy
Shawn please see attached. This is the BPD's final response for the
following request.
*On Dec. 7, 2013:To Whom It May Concern: Pursuant to the Massachusetts
Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following
records: Lists, spreadsheets or other document(s) compiling and detailing
lawsuits (including settlements and resolution of suits) in which the City
of Boston defended the City of Boston or its departments, subdivisions and
employees, including resolution of suits, time and money dedicated to those
defenses, etc. Please include the above for years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
to date. I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe
this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by
the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The
requested documents will be made available to the general public free of
charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed
by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of
news gathering and not for commercial usage. I expect the request to be
filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide
text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not
accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well
as physical documents. In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be
grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of
fulfilling my request. 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, Shawn Musgrave*
Should you need anything further please let us know, otherwise I will
consider this request filled and closed on our end.
Thanks
Sgt. McCarthy
--
Sergeant Michael P. McCarthy
Director, Office of Media Relations
617-343-4520
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello,
I have yet to receive any confirmation that BPS is processing this request as forwarded from the Boston Corporation Counsel. Please advise.
Thank you,
Shawn
From: Ocasio, Alissa
The BPS Legal Office is processing this request which should be ready early
next week.
--
Alissa Ocasio
Legal Advisor
Boston Public Schools
26 Court Street
Boston, MA 02108
Tel: 617-635-9320
Fax: 617-635-9327
*aocasio@bostonpublicschools.org <aocasio@bostonpublicschools.org>*
From: Ocasio, Alissa
Mr. Musgrave:
Please see attached a list of all cases handled by the Boston Public
Schools Office of Legal Advisor and disposed between 2010 and 2013.
Regards,
Ali Ocasio
Legal Advisor
--
Alissa Ocasio
Legal Advisor
Boston Public Schools
26 Court Street
Boston, MA 02108
Tel: 617-635-9320
Fax: 617-635-9327
*aocasio@bostonpublicschools.org <aocasio@bostonpublicschools.org>*
-
BPS Response MuckRock FOIA - Final-20140516
From: Shawn Musgrave
Sgt. McCarthy -
Please send the original spreadsheet, rather than a printed and scanned copy. Does a log of the settlement amounts exist, similar to the log released by the Corporation Counsel (see attached)? If so, I would like such a log, per my original request.
Thank you,
Shawn
-
Muckrock_Research_2.xlsx
From: Mike McCarthy
Shawn,
Legal is looking into this additional request. The BPD does not have a log
of the settlement amounts, similar to the one released by Corporation
Counsel.
--
Sergeant Michael P. McCarthy
Director, Office of Media Relations
617-343-4520
From: Mike McCarthy
Shawn,
In checking my sent emails it appears as though I did send you an original
spreadsheet on 5/14/2014, not a printed and scanned version.
Sgt. McCarthy
--
Sergeant Michael P. McCarthy
Director, Office of Media Relations
617-343-4520
From: Shawn Musgrave
Sgt. McCarthy -
The spreadsheet that I received was a PDF, rather than the native digital format I assume the spreadsheet is in as stored on the BPD system. Please confirm.
-Shawn
From: Mike McCarthy
> Shawn,
>
Legal tells me this is the only format they have it in. It is attached
below.
Sgt. McCarthy
-
MuckRock FOIA - Litigation
From: Shawn Musgrave
Sgt. McCarthy -
Thank you for sending the spreadsheet. Please confirm whether the settlement amounts are available in another log, per my original request.
Thank you.
From: Mike McCarthy
Shawn,
I am told that the cases on this list do not result in money settlements.
They are issues of bypasses, licensing cases, discipline, etc. All of City
Hall's are for money. No log exists per your original request. We will
consider this closed. If you have specific cases that you would like to
inquire about please send under a separate FOIA request and we can process.
Thanks,
Sgt. McCarthy
Files
pages