Final Decision FIC2014-296
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In the Matter of a Complaint by |
FINAL DECISION | |
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Umar Shahid,
Complainant |
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against
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Docket #FIC 2014-296 | |
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Chief Court Administrator, State of Connecticut,
Judicial Branch, Court Operations Division; and State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch, Court Operations Division, Respondents |
February 11, 2015 |
The above-captioned matter was consolidated for hearing with Docket #FIC 2014-300, now also captioned Umar Shahid, v. Chief Court Administrator, State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch, Court Operations Division; and State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch, Court Operations Division. Both matters were heard as contested cases on December 29, 2014, at which time the complainant and the respondents herein appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint. The complainant, who is incarcerated, appeared via teleconference, pursuant to the January 2004 memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the Department of Correction. See Docket No. CV 03-0826293, Anthony Sinchak v. FOIC, Superior Court, J.D. of Hartford at Hartford, Corrected Order dated January 27, 2004 (Sheldon, J.). The case caption above has been amended to reflect accurately the name of the respondent Court Operations Division.
After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found and conclusions of law are reached:
1. The respondents are public agencies only with respect to their administrative functions, within the meaning of §1-200(1)(A), G.S.
2. It is found that, by letter dated April 15, 2014, the complainant made a request to Thomas Siconolfi, Executive Director of Administrative Services for the Judicial Branch, for copies of six sets of records: a) procedures concerning personnel complaints, including the appeal process; b) procedures concerning administrative complaints, including the appeal process; c) the policy manual of the Chief Court Administrator; d) the code of ethics for all employees; e) the “name of the supervisors of all Judicial District Courts in St of CT”; and f) the “contents of policy manual” (the “requested records”). The request letter also claimed that the complainant was indigent and requested the waiver of production fees.
2. It is found that, by letter dated April 15, 2014, the complainant made a request to Thomas Siconolfi, Executive Director of Administrative Services for the Judicial Branch, for copies of six sets of records: a) procedures concerning personnel complaints, including the appeal process; b) procedures concerning administrative complaints, including the appeal process; c) the policy manual of the Chief Court Administrator; d) the code of ethics for all employees; e) the “name of the supervisors of all Judicial District Courts in St of CT”; and f) the “contents of policy manual” (the “requested records”). The request letter also claimed that the complainant was indigent and requested the waiver of production fees.
3. By notice of appeal dated May 8, 2014 and filed May 13, 2014, the complainant appealed to this Commission, alleging that the respondents violated the Freedom of Information Act by denying his request for records.
4. It is found that, by letter dated May 15, 2014, the Director of Legal Services of the respondent Court Operations Division stated that the April 15, 2014 records request had been forwarded to him the previous day, acknowledged the complainant’s request, requested clarification concerning aspects of the request, and requested advisement as to whether the complainant could review records sent on a CD.
4. It is found that, by letter dated May 15, 2014, the Director of Legal Services of the respondent Court Operations Division stated that the April 15, 2014 records request had been forwarded to him the previous day, acknowledged the complainant’s request, requested clarification concerning aspects of the request, and requested advisement as to whether the complainant could review records sent on a CD.
5. It is found that, by letter dated July 21, 2014, the Director of Legal Services further responded to three different records requests from the complainant. Concerning the April 15, 2014 request to Thomas Siconolfi, specifically the records described at paragraph 2.a) and 2.b), the respondents stated that there are no records setting forth formal procedures for complaints. In response to the requests described at paragraph 2.c) and 2.d), the July 21, 2014 letter enclosed a copy of the table of contents for the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual and stated that this manual contains a code of ethics applicable to all employees. Also enclosed was a list of the chief clerks for the judicial district courthouses, in response to the request described at paragraph 2.e). In response to the request described at paragraph 2.f), the letter listed thirty-three additional policy and procedure manuals of the Judicial Branch. Finally, with respect to the complainant’s request for a fee waiver, the July 21, 2014 letter enclosed a financial affidavit form and stated that additional records would not be provided until the form was completed and a determination made concerning the complainant’s qualification.
6. 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, or to which a public agency is entitled to receive a copy by law or contract under 1-218, whether such data or information be handwritten, typed, tape-recorded, printed, photostated, photographed or recorded by any other method.
7. Section 1-210(a), G.S., provides in relevant part that:
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 . . . (3) receive a copy of such records in accordance with section 1-212.
8. Section 1-212, G.S., provides in relevant part that:
(a) Any person applying in writing shall receive, promptly upon request, a plain, facsimile, electronic or certified copy of any public record….The fee for any copy provided in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act…[b]y…any judicial office, official or body or committee…shall not exceed twenty-five cents per page; and
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(c) A public agency may require the prepayment of any fee required or permitted under the Freedom of Information Act if such fee is estimated to be ten dollars or more.
….
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(d) The public agency shall waive any fee provided for in this section when: (1) [t]he person requesting the records is an indigent individual…. (emphasis added)
9. It is found that the requested records are public records within the meaning of §§1-200(5), 1-210(a), and 1-212(a), G.S.
10. At the hearing, the complainant testified that, due to “issues going on” at the halfway house where he was residing, he had not received the respondents’ July 21, 2014 letter. However, he acknowledged receipt of the July 21, 2014 letter in the set of exhibits for the hearing that was mailed on December 8, 2014 (“received something from you…looked [it] over…read some of them, I believe”).
11. It is found that the requested records constituted substantially more than forty pages, so that the fee for paper copies would be in excess of ten dollars. It is also found that the complainant did not file an executed financial affidavit form with the respondents or prepay the estimated fee in excess of ten dollars.
11. It is found that the requested records constituted substantially more than forty pages, so that the fee for paper copies would be in excess of ten dollars. It is also found that the complainant did not file an executed financial affidavit form with the respondents or prepay the estimated fee in excess of ten dollars.
12. It is further found that the respondents made a good faith effort to respond to a broad, not clearly delineated records request, providing some records without proof of indigence or payment, explaining what records within broad categories were available and also which records did not exist.
13. It is therefore concluded that the respondents did not violate §§1-210(a) and 1-212(a), G.S., by not disclosing additional requested records to the complainant.
The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned complaint:
1. The complaint is dismissed.
Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of February 11, 2015.
__________________________
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:
Umar Shahid #103589
Robinson Correctional Institution
295 Shaker Road
P.O. Box 1400
Enfield, CT 06082
Robinson Correctional Institution
295 Shaker Road
P.O. Box 1400
Enfield, CT 06082
Chief Court Administrator, State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch,
Court Operations Division; and State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch,
Court Operations Division
c/o Martin R. Libbin, Esq.
State of Connecticut,
Judicial Branch
100 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Court Operations Division; and State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch,
Court Operations Division
c/o Martin R. Libbin, Esq.
State of Connecticut,
Judicial Branch
100 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
____________________________
Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission
FIC/2014-296FD/cac/2/11/2015