Final Decision FIC2013-184
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In the Matter of a Complaint by |
FINAL DECISION | |
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David Godbout,
Complainant |
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against
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Docket #FIC 2013-184 | |
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Executive Director, State of Connecticut,
Office of Legislative Management; and State of Connecticut, Office of Legislative Management, Respondents |
March 12, 2014 |
The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on February 4, 2014, at which time the complainant and the respondents appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint. For purposes of hearing, the above-captioned matter was consolidated with Docket #FIC 2013-183; David Godbout v. Andres Ayala, Member, State of Connecticut, Connecticut State Senate; and Joan Hartley, Member, State of Connecticut, Connecticut State Senate; and Docket #FIC 2013-194; David Godbout v. Anthony Guglielmo and Kevin Witkos, as Members, State of Connecticut, Connecticut State Senate.
After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found and conclusions of law are reached:
1. The respondents are public agencies within the meaning of §1-200(1), G.S.
2. It is found that on March 8, 2013, the complainant requested to inspect all the records, including internet browser histories, of 26 named legislators and staff from February 20, 2013 through March 8, 2013 (except for December 20, 2012 through March 8, 2013, for one legislator and her staff).
3. It is found that on March 18, 2013, the complainant narrowed his request, limiting the search of records to electronic records containing the word “meeting” and “Hartley.”1
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At the same time, the complainant expanded the inclusive time period of the request, from February 20, 2013 through March 8, 2013, to January 1, 2013 through March 15, 2013. For purposes of this appeal, the Commission shall consider the inclusive time period to be that stated in the original request of March 8, 2013, as described in paragraph 2, above.
4. By letter filed March 28, 2013, the complainant appealed to this Commission, alleging that the respondent violated the Freedom of Information (“FOI”) Act by failing to permit him to inspect the records he requested.
5. Section 1-200(5), G.S., provides:
Public records or files means any recorded data or information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, received or retained by a public agency, …whether such data or information be handwritten, typed, tape-recorded, printed, photostated, photographed or recorded by any other method.
6. Section 1-210(a), G.S., provides, in relevant part:
Except as otherwise provided by any federal law or state statute, all records maintained or kept on file by any public agency, whether or not such records are required by any law or by any rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person shall have the right to (1) inspect such records promptly during regular office or business hours, (2) copy such records in accordance with subsection (g) of section 1-212, or (3) receive a copy of such records in accordance with section 1-212.
7. It is concluded that the records requested by the complainant are public records within the meaning of §§1-200(5), 1-210(a), and 1-212(a), G.S.
8. It is also found that while the complainant narrowed the request on March 18, 2013, he did not relinquish his original request, and seeks all the records he requested in March 8, 2013, as described in paragraph 2, above.
9. It is found that the respondents’ search containing the search terms “meeting” and “Hartley” produced 575 e-mails. It is found that the respondents have not yet reviewed such e-mails for permissive exemptions or mandatory exceptions.
10. It is found that since the complainant’s request, all but 159 of the 575 e-mails were deleted by mistake, which the respondents acknowledge.
11. At the hearing in this matter, the respondents agreed to review the 159 records that remain and provide them to the complainant within two weeks’ time. The respondents also agreed to ask I/T Services about recovery of the deleted e-mails.
12. It is found that the respondents could have produced at least some of the e-mails requested by the complainant. It is found that the respondents did not provide any e-mails in a prompt manner.
13. It is concluded, therefore, that the respondents violated the promptness provisions of §1-210(a), G.S.
The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned complaint:
1. Forthwith, the respondents shall review the e-mails referenced in paragraph 11, above, and provide all non-exempt records to the complainant for his inspection.
1. Forthwith, the respondents shall review the e-mails referenced in paragraph 11, above, and provide all non-exempt records to the complainant for his inspection.
2. The respondents shall investigate whether deleted e-mails may be recovered. The respondents shall inform the complainant of the results of such investigation. If the records can be recovered, the respondents shall do so and then shall review such records and provide all non-exempt records to the complainant.
3. The respondents shall continue to provide the records requested by the complainant on March 8, 2013 on an ongoing basis until the request has been fulfilled.
Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of March 12, 2014.
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Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-180(c), G.S., THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF EACH PARTY AND THE MOST RECENT MAILING ADDRESS, PROVIDED TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION, OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.
Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-180(c), G.S., THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF EACH PARTY AND THE MOST RECENT MAILING ADDRESS, PROVIDED TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION, OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.
THE PARTIES TO THIS CONTESTED CASE ARE:
David Godbout
15 Cardinal Road
East Lyme, CT 06333
15 Cardinal Road
East Lyme, CT 06333
Executive Director, State of Connecticut, Office of
Legislative Management; and State of Connecticut,
Office of Legislative Management
c/o Philip Miller, Esq.
Assistant Attorney General
State of Connecticut,
Office of the Attorney General
55 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Legislative Management; and State of Connecticut,
Office of Legislative Management
c/o Philip Miller, Esq.
Assistant Attorney General
State of Connecticut,
Office of the Attorney General
55 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
____________________________
Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission
Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission
FIC/2013-184/FD/cac/3/12/2014