Heat related deaths - amended request

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Louisiana Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records related to the deaths in New Orleans related to heat exposure starting from January 1 2022 to August 16 2023. Specifically, I request this information as a data set or spreadsheet that includes the following information (if available):

Case Number
Name of Deceased
Age of Deceased
Birthdate of Deceased
Gender
Race
Ethnicity (please note if Hispanic/Latino)
Date of Death
Manner of Death
Primary Cause(s)
Secondary Cause(s)
Incident Address or Place of Death (including city and zip code)
Residence Address (including city and zip code)
Pronouncement Address (including hospital name if applicable)
Notifying Agency
Autopsy (if applicable)

If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $20. However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of coronavirus cases in Orleans Parish. I am a journalist at the Guardian, which is a public interest news organization, and this information is not being sought for commercial purposes.

Section 44:32(D) of the Louisiana Public Records Act requires a response within three business days. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than that time period, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records. I can be reached at any time at 646-726-1894 or oliver.laughland@theguardian.com.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law. If only partial information is available, please release only the partial information to me.

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 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Oliver Laughland