Lists of civil lawsuits brought against San Antonio PD
| Submitted | Sept. 2, 2014 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act , I hereby request the following records:
Copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents created or updated since Jan. 1, 2009 that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department. This should include any documentation mechanism your department uses to track lawsuits. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department.
This request should be construed to include documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as documents or databases that contain responsive information over a longer time span.
I request that all fees be waived for this request because I am a journalist -- employed by the Boston Globe and MuckRock -- and intend to use the requested information to educate the public.
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,
Todd Feathers
From: Todd Feathers
Hello,
I would like to revise the below-mentioned request so as to reduce the burden on your agency of retrieving the records. I had requested:
"Copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents created or updated since Jan. 1, 2009 that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department. This should include any documentation mechanism your department uses to track lawsuits. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department."
After corresponding with other police departments, I would like to reduce my request to the following:
A single list of all civil rights and tort lawsuits brought against the San Antonio Police Department since Jan. 1, 2009 that have since been closed and are no longer pending litigation. If possible, I would also like the disposition for those closed cases and any settlement or judgment amounts paid as a result.
Thank you for your help, and I apologize for the inconvenience.
Todd Feathers
From: Todd Feathers
Ms. Flores,
I'm writing in response to your Sept. 16 letter requesting clarification of my request, W031495-090214. I did not receive your letter today, but I had sent an email to Moraima Montenegro (whose email address I have on file as the person to send requests to) on Sept. 18 clarifying my request.
Below is a text of that email. If possible in the future, would you mind responding to this email address with regards to this request? I know it's a pain in the ass -- I'm sorry for that -- but I file a lot of requests and the numerical email addresses are part of my system for tracking requests.
My clarification email:
"I would like to revise the below-mentioned request so as to reduce the burden on your agency of retrieving the records. I had requested:
"Copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents created or updated since Jan. 1, 2009 that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department. This should include any documentation mechanism your department uses to track lawsuits. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department."
After corresponding with other police departments, I would like to reduce my request to the following:
A single list of all civil rights and tort lawsuits brought against the San Antonio Police Department since Jan. 1, 2009 that have since been closed and are no longer pending litigation. If possible, I would also like the disposition for those closed cases and any settlement or judgment amounts paid as a result.
Thank you for your help, and I apologize for the inconvenience.
Todd Feathers"
From: Linda Flores (SAPD)
No problem at all Sir. I have updated W031495 with this email address and your clarification response. Thank you for the clarification. I will run it by the City Attorney's Office and get back to you by Friday, October 3rd if not sooner.
Respectfully,
Linda
Linda S. Flores
Management Analyst
San Antonio Police Dept.
From: City of San Antonio - Open Government
--- Please respond above this line ---
City of San Antonio
San Antonio Police Department
Open Records Office
315 S Santa Rosa Ave
San Antonio , Texas 78207
Phone: (210) 207-7320 / Fax: (210) 207-4262
9/30/2014
VIA Email
Todd Feathers
DEPT MR 12717
Boston, MA 02205-5819
RE: Response to Public Information Request
COSA ORR No: W031495-090214 Dear Mr. Feathers:
I have received your request for public information, in which you asked for: “ After corresponding with other police departments, I would like to reduce my request to the following: A single list of all civil rights and tort lawsuits brought against the San Antonio Police Department since Jan. 1, 2009 that have since been closed and are no longer pending litigation. If possible, I would also like the disposition for those closed cases and any settlement or judgment amounts paid as a result.” It has been determined that the charge for the production of the records you have requested will exceed $40.00. Pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Section 552.2615, the City of San Antonio is providing you with an itemized estimate of the anticipated charges:
* General Labor - The charge for labor costs incurred in processing a request for public information. The labor charge includes the actual time to locate, compile, manipulate data, and reproduce the requested information. (1 hour @ $15.00) – 16 hours = $240.00
* Overhead Charge - The overhead charge shall be computed at 20% of the charge made to cover any labor costs associated with a particular request. ($240.00 x .20) = $48.00
* Copy Fee – The fee for providing paper copies is $0.10 cents per page. ($0.10 x 10) = $0.00 (Requested the documents electronically)
Estimated Total: $288.00 Please let me know if you will accept these estimated costs. If you do not respond to this letter within 10 business days after the date this statement is sent, your request will be deemed withdrawn under the Texas Public Information Act, Section 552.2615(b), unless you have advised the city that you will accept and will agree to pay the estimated cost, modify your request in response to the cost estimate or that you have sent a complaint to the Office of the Attorney General alleging that you have been overcharged for public information.
You may choose to respond to this letter by email, fax, regular mail, or by personally delivering your written response in person at this office. Please note that no work will be undertaken until we receive your response. Our contact information follows:
By email:
Linda.flores@sanantonio.gov
By fax: (210) 207-4262
By mail or in person: San Antonio Police Department 315 S. Santa Rosa Ave San Antonio, TX 78207
Attn: Open Records Office
Hours of Operation: Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Closed weekends and holidays) Name of Point of Contact:
Linda S. Flores The estimated cost for your request exceeds $100. In accordance with Section 552.263, we request a deposit of $144.00. Your check or money order must be made payable to the City of San Antonio. Please note the COSA ORR file number W031495-090214 in the memo section and send to the mailing address listed above. If you accept the charges, your deposit must be received before any copies will be made.
If you pay a deposit and the actual final cost is less than the amount you have paid, you will be issued a refund. If the actual cost is more than the amount of the deposit but within 20% of that amount, payment must be made in full before you can receive the copies. An updated statement will be sent to you if the final amount will exceed 20% of the original estimate. If you agree to accept the charges, please do so in writing as detailed above.
It will take approximately 7 business days to complete this request. Please contact me and let me know how you would like to proceed. Sincerely,
Linda S. Flores Management Analyst San Antonio Police Department 315 S. Santa Rosa Ave San Antonio, Texas 78207 210-207-7320 ext. 77551 Linda.flores@sanantonio.gov
From: City of San Antonio - Open Government
To Todd Feathers,
Please be advised that the City of San Antonio does not monitor requests that have been closed. If a requester desires to seek additional information, or submit a comment to City staff, we recommend the creation of a new request (please visit the Open Records Center) , or a direct email to the staff who responded to the now closed request. (http://www.sanantonio.gov/opengovernment/)
City of San Antonio
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 Sept. 2, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Linda Flores (SAPD)
Mr. Feathers,
I never received a response to the cost estimate of $288.00. Therefore, the request was closed. Do you wish for me to open a new request for the same information and state that you approve of the estimated cost? I will need your approval of the estimate in writing with your name on it. Please let me know if you approve of the $288.00 cost.
Respectfully,
Linda
Linda S. Flores
Management Analyst
Open Records Office Supervisor
San Antonio Police Department
210-207-7320 ext. 77551
linda.flores@sanantonio.gov<mailto:linda.flores@sanantonio.gov>
Note:
Please include the ORR Reference Number I have listed in the subject line of my original email to you (begins with a 'W') when you are providing me responsive documents. If you send me a brand new email rather than replying to my original email, I will not know which request you are responding to without that 'W" ORR Reference Number.
Please always provide the uninterrupted time it takes you to compile the responsive records. If I am asking you for somethng that you anticipate will take over 2 hours to compile. Please let me know before you begin the work. I am required to get a cost estimate approval prior to such requests.
DEADLINES NOTICE: If the Department wishes to withhold documents from disclosure, the Department must submit a copy of all records immediately, but no more than Three Business Days. (Administrative Directive 1.31) If you are unable to turn in responsive documents within the three business days you need to give us a date and time when the records will be ready so we can let our Legal Department and the requestor know when the documents will be ready. Not complying with the Open Record Act or with Administrative Directive 1.31 will cause the release of all records being ordered, and/or the requestor may file a lawsuit or complaint against the City of San Antonio
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~WRD000