California Public Records Act Request: San Mateo County Coroner case details
| Submitted | May 12, 2020 |
| Due | Feb. 21, 2021 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Molly Peterson
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
I am seeking case records of deaths in San Mateo County dating back to Nov. 1, 2019. Please respond with the following information for each case:
- case number
- date of death
- race
- ethnicity
- age
- gender
- residential location (e.g. street address and home zip code of decedent)
- location at death (e.g. street address and zip code where decedent died)
- cause(s) of death (indicating if COVID related)
- any other non-exempt information contained in case records
I reference CA PRA 6253.1 specifically with this request: please describe the information technology used to maintain these records, to the extent that it may assist in producing a focused and effective request. In the alternative, please simply provide the data in spreadsheet format pursuant to CA PRA 6253.9.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Molly Peterson
From: Office of the Coroner
Ms. Peterson,
This email confirms receipt of your May 12, 2020 request under the Public Record Act. As you may expect, in light of the County and statewide shelter-in-place orders and the federal, state, and County emergencies, the County is operating with reduced staff and many of its resources are dedicated to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coroner’s Office is no exception.
This email serves as the County’s initial response pursuant to Government Code Section 6253(c). After a diligent search, we have determined that your request, in whole or in part, seeks disclosable records in the possession of the Coroner’s Office. At the outset, please note that many of the investigations of deaths from November 1, 2019 to present have not yet been completed and, therefore, details regarding those deaths cannot be released. As to those investigations that have been completed, the Coroner’s Office will need time to compile and produce those reports. In light of current circumstances, that may take more time than usual. Moreover, as you might expect, the Coroner’s Office has received a number of requests seeking the same records/information you are requesting and we are working diligently to produce a comprehensive coordinated response to all such requests. The current timeline for the response is approximately 3 months.
Moreover, the Coroner’s Office asserts, and reserves the continuing right to assert, all applicable exemptions, including, without limitation, information protection by applicable privilege (Gov. Code, § 6254(k)), preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency or intra-agency memoranda (Gov. Code, § 6254(a)), photographs depicting decedents (Code of Civ. Proc., § 129), confidential medical records (Civ. Code, § 56.10, et seq.), and other private/sensitive information the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy (Gov. Code, § 6254(c)).
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Elizabeth Ortiz, D-ABMDI
Supervising Deputy Coroner #3
San Mateo County Coroner's Office
50 Tower Road
San Mateo, California 94402
Direct: (650) 312-5272
Office: (650) 312-5562
Fax: (650) 571-6258
PONY COR354
[cid:9511c584-cbfe-4767-8855-7a2b6c350fbe][cid:2a613163-b4c0-4288-b45b-a2e7a7d63ce3]
San Mateo County Cares about providing excellent and courteous public service. We would like to know if we are succeeding and how we can do better. Please take a moment to complete the Coroner's Office survey http://coroner.smcgov.org/webforms/san-mateo-county-cares
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Password Notification
This is a password notification message for the County Of San Mateo Secure Messaging service.
You received this notification for one of the following reasons:
1. You have been sent a secure message.
2. The system administrator has arranged access to the Secure Messaging service for you.
3. The system administrator has reset your password.
4. You requested a password reminder.
Please connect to the Secure Messaging service by clicking https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/fyN1CXDXrxFkLok8s6gHtN. You may be required to change your password immediately following login.
You may be required to change your password immediately following login.
Secure Messaging:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/fyN1CXDXrxFkLok8s6gHtN
Login Information:
Email Address: requests@muckrock.com
Password: DYYHuo6d
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/WSu0CW6KQOcNnmNJH6o-LY
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Molly Peterson
Hi there: I'm trying to access the secure system and I'm not able to log in using either the muckrock email address or the login associated with my muckrock account. I did try to enter the password given with mpeterson@kqed.org as the email address and I was denied. I requested a new password via the mpeterson@kqed.org email since your system seemed to at least recognize the existence of that one.
Do you have further guidance?
From: Office of the Coroner
Hello,
Did you try the email address that was listed at the bottom of the secured message? I've highlighted them below.
Elizabeth Ortiz, D-ABMDI
Supervising Deputy Coroner #3
San Mateo County Coroner's Office
50 Tower Road
San Mateo, California 94402
Direct: (650) 312-5272
Office: (650) 312-5562
Fax: (650) 571-6258
PONY COR354
[cid:9511c584-cbfe-4767-8855-7a2b6c350fbe][cid:2a613163-b4c0-4288-b45b-a2e7a7d63ce3]
San Mateo County Cares about providing excellent and courteous public service. We would like to know if we are succeeding and how we can do better. Please take a moment to complete the Coroner's Office survey http://coroner.smcgov.org/webforms/san-mateo-county-cares
From: Molly Peterson
Yes, I did, if you're talking about these credentials:
Login Information:
Email Address: requests@muckrock.com
Password: DYYHuo6d
(That's what I sent screenshots of in the last email.)
What happens when I enter that email address is it says "Invalid user name, password or permissions."
I think this problem is an artifact of format translation from normal email to the Muckrock system. If there's any chance you could make a PDF or a screenshot of what I'm supposed to use to log in, please let me know.
From: Office of the Coroner
This is the email address I saw. Try this one.
Email Address: requests@muckrock.com
Password: DYYHuo6d
Elizabeth Ortiz, D-ABMDI
Supervising Deputy Coroner #3
San Mateo County Coroner's Office
50 Tower Road
San Mateo, California 94402
Direct: (650) 312-5272
Office: (650) 312-5562
Fax: (650) 571-6258
PONY COR354
[cid:9511c584-cbfe-4767-8855-7a2b6c350fbe][cid:2a613163-b4c0-4288-b45b-a2e7a7d63ce3]
San Mateo County Cares about providing excellent and courteous public service. We would like to know if we are succeeding and how we can do better. Please take a moment to complete the Coroner's Office survey http://coroner.smcgov.org/webforms/san-mateo-county-cares
From: Molly Peterson
Yes, sorry, I think we're crossing streams of understanding.
I have tried the email address "requests@muckrock.com"
with the password "DYYHuo6d."
When I try that I don't even get to the password stage. It says: "Invalid user name, password or permissions." That is what I sent screenshots of earlier.
From: Office of the Coroner
I'm going to try to send it again. I can't control the email security as that is something done by the county. Hopefully this will work.
Elizabeth Ortiz, D-ABMDI
Supervising Deputy Coroner #3
San Mateo County Coroner's Office
50 Tower Road
San Mateo, California 94402
Direct: (650) 312-5272
Office: (650) 312-5562
Fax: (650) 571-6258
PONY COR354
[cid:9511c584-cbfe-4767-8855-7a2b6c350fbe][cid:2a613163-b4c0-4288-b45b-a2e7a7d63ce3]
San Mateo County Cares about providing excellent and courteous public service. We would like to know if we are succeeding and how we can do better. Please take a moment to complete the Coroner's Office survey http://coroner.smcgov.org/webforms/san-mateo-county-cares
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/pEcsCL91v6hVPOG0hBHLvQ
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Molly Peterson
I'm sorry, this must be really frustrating. It's letting me enter a password for once, but it is not letting me enter the only password I have. (To be clear I'm using the same username and password as before.) I'm not sure what to do now.
From: Office of the Coroner
Ms. Peterson,
I made a second attempt to send the data via the email of: requests@muckrock.com. Was that attempt also unsuccessful?
Would you like me to try another email address? In your screen shots you used mpetersen@kqed.org. With your permission, I will attempt to send the data to that email address.
Elizabeth Ortiz, D-ABMDI
Supervising Deputy Coroner #3
San Mateo County Coroner's Office
50 Tower Road
San Mateo, California 94402
Direct: (650) 312-5272
Office: (650) 312-5562
Fax: (650) 571-6258
PONY COR354
[cid:9511c584-cbfe-4767-8855-7a2b6c350fbe][cid:2a613163-b4c0-4288-b45b-a2e7a7d63ce3]
San Mateo County Cares about providing excellent and courteous public service. We would like to know if we are succeeding and how we can do better. Please take a moment to complete the Coroner's Office survey http://coroner.smcgov.org/webforms/san-mateo-county-cares
From: Molly Peterson
Yes it was. For the same reasons, I am sorry to say.
From: Molly Peterson
I understand you made a second attempt. The secure message system rejected that password too.
I sent screenshots via the interface I have. I am guessing you do not get the screenshots. In any case, they hardly tell you anything except that the password is rejected.
I understand this is the manner in which messages are delivered. It is not working. Is it possible to speak by phone to troubleshoot?
Molly Peterson 415 377 1760
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/77zSCwpyK9ckZAn4cV-eJ5
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/QROFCo2njRI5mxlDf1_gRH
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/wRgACQWK6JsgV0rYsxwu0l
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/0ez0CJ6KNDclY3RyUVfhHr
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/SruCCERX0OIBnQzlSNStXJ
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/MYwMCW6KQOc0pz0ls6msG7
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Ms. Peterson,
I have emailed you the data from November 2019, December 2019, and January-April 2020. I will be sending you the remaining portion of the data you requested this week.
Elizabeth Ortiz, D-ABMDI
Supervising Deputy Coroner #3
San Mateo County Coroner's Office
50 Tower Road
San Mateo, California 94402
Direct: (650) 312-5272
Office: (650) 312-5562
Fax: (650) 571-6258
PONY COR354
[cid:9511c584-cbfe-4767-8855-7a2b6c350fbe][cid:2a613163-b4c0-4288-b45b-a2e7a7d63ce3]
San Mateo County Cares about providing excellent and courteous public service. We would like to know if we are succeeding and how we can do better. Please take a moment to complete the Coroner's Office survey http://coroner.smcgov.org/webforms/san-mateo-county-cares
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/a14fCXDXrxFm1J5ys6UCh5
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/XZFlCKr7LXhLlJEYfM_Vpo
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/YHNFC31ryRcZwBBAfghpne
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Office of the Coroner
Secure Messaging Notification
You have been sent a secure message by County Of San Mateo.
It has been classified as sensitive and may only be accessed from within this Secure Messaging service.
View the message by clicking here:
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/rTzPCVO27pfM381zFGRrdE
If this is the first time you have received a secure message from this company, a password will be emailed to you separately.
If you did not receive your password or are experiencing trouble logging in, click here to request a new password:
From: Molly Peterson
Hi there Elizabeth. I have not been able to access the remainder of the data you referred to. Is it possible to get that data resent to us?
I'm incredibly sorry. I was locked out of my account for a bit.
You have likely turned over more data, but what I have only is: November, March and April. I'm seeking the remainder months.
Thank you again,
Molly Peterson
From: Office of the Coroner
Ms. Petersen,
I have sent you the data twice. Is there another platform or email I can send it to? I'd like to make sure this is resolved.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Ortiz, D-ABMDI
Supervising Deputy Coroner #3
San Mateo County Coroner's Office
50 Tower Road
San Mateo, California 94402
Direct: (650) 312-5272
Office: (650) 312-5562
Fax: (650) 571-6258
PONY COR354
[cid:9511c584-cbfe-4767-8855-7a2b6c350fbe][cid:2a613163-b4c0-4288-b45b-a2e7a7d63ce3]
San Mateo County Cares about providing excellent and courteous public service. We would like to know if we are succeeding and how we can do better. Please take a moment to complete the Coroner's Office survey http://coroner.smcgov.org/webforms/san-mateo-county-cares
From: Molly Peterson
Hi there. It happened again: I've been working to resolve the issue on this end. Can you send the files directly to me outside of a KQED email address, or place them in a dropbox or google drive link I provide?
The email address is molly.peterson@me.com
I've shared a dropbox link, and the potential folder these files could also go to is here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x0vwwx5ijje5v1b/AACeB7GN4uPIY7wvG8hiL5cva?dl=0
Finally, here is a google drive link that could be used: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17-7wpImzOV7aICeoF_ewpw6DCC4VzqeW?usp=sharing