Legal services contracts (Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Headquarters)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (1977 N.Y. Laws ch. 933), I hereby request the following records:

a copy of any agreements—since 1/1/2015 between the agency and any law firm or vendor of legal services—that are related, in part or in whole, to federal or state law enforcement investigations.

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Luke Stoddard Nathan

I am requesting contracts with outside law firms that—according, say, to the contract's description of services—pertain to federal or state law enforcement investigations.

As a hypothetical example: MTA receives a subpoena and, perhaps lacking in-house resources to process it, hires a private, outside law firm to assist with retrieving responsive records.

Please let me know if this remains unclear.

Sorry: What is unclear about my phrasing?

I then explained in an 8/29/17 email: "I am requesting contracts [between the MTA and] outside law firms that—according, say, to the contract's description of services—pertain to federal or state law enforcement investigations.

As a hypothetical example: MTA receives a subpoena and, perhaps lacking in-house resources to process it, hires a private, outside law firm to assist with retrieving responsive records."

I would add, by "federal or state law enforcement investigations," I mean investigations into any potential matter involving the MTA that is led or assisted by a federal (for example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation) or state (for example, the state Attorney General) agency.

Does that help?

Thanks!