Agency Settlements (Houston Legal Department)
| Multi Request | Agency Settlements |
| Submitted | Nov. 6, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
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.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, 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,
Beryl Lipton
From:
Good morning Ms. Lipton—could you please give me a call at the phone number listed below to discuss the attached public information request. I’d like to discuss the scope of your request as it relates to responsive information the City of Houston Legal Department has within its actual and constructive custody.
Thank you,
Rashaad V. Gambrell
Senior Assistant City Attorney
General Counsel Section
City of Houston Legal Department
Ph: 832.393.6439
Fx: 832.393.6259
Confidential & Privileged Attorney-Client Communication
From: Beryl Lipton
Hello Mr. Gambrell,
Thanks again for getting in touch with me via phone to discuss this request. As I mentioned, I would be happy to limit this particular request to the electronic materials (sparing for now any paper or similarly archived documents) available from the period 2010 through the present that offer an overview of claims, cases, payments, and similar settlements - with the understanding that, while these materials will include information such as the dates on which a particular conflict was opened and closed and the amount paid, they might not include synopses of the case or the city department that was involved. Please let me know if you or your office require further detail about our discussion today or this request. Thanks so much for your help, and I hope the rest of the week and your holiday season go wonderfully.
Best wishes,
Beryl
From: Houston Legal Department
Attached is your copy of the letter sent to the Attorney General's Office.
General Counsel Section
City of Houston Legal Department
From: Houston Legal Department
Good morning Ms. Lipton-could you please give me a call to discuss your public information request. I was on Muckrock's website trying to find a phone number for you when through your search engine I discovered you did "post" a response to my emails below, but it was never transmitted or received by me or anyone here in the City. If possible could you please call me at the number below to discuss this issue. Also, could you please forward your 11/15/2017 post on Muckrock's website to me so we may have official record of your willingness to narrow your request to electronic files. Upon doing so I believe we can satisfy your request quickly.
Thank you,
Rashaad V. Gambrell
Senior Assistant City Attorney
General Counsel Section
City of Houston Legal Department
Ph: 832.393.6439
Fx: 832.393.6259
Confidential & Privileged Attorney-Client Communication
From: Houston Legal Department
Ms. Lipton-attached is a screenshot of the November 15, 2017 modification/clarification to your public information request sent to the City of Houston Legal Department. Although the modification/clarification of your request was not received by the City of Houston Legal Department, attached you will find the information responsive to your modified/clarified request: electronic materials available from 2010 through the present that offer an overview of claims, cases, payments and similar settlements.
Also, the City will withdraw its request and notice to the Texas Attorney General that it will seek an opinion to withhold the responsive information from public disclosure. A copy of that correspondence will be sent to you under separate cover.
The City of Houston Legal Department is closing its file on this matter.
Thank you,
General Counsel Section
City of Houston Legal Department
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Muckrock pub info modification
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