hugh jarmis
Centurion
imported post
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dls/2008-PRCO/2008_Pub_Rec_Outline.pdf
[align=left]Interesting notes:[/align]
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dls/2008-PRCO/2008_Pub_Rec_Outline.pdf
[align=left]Interesting notes:[/align]
[/align]
[align=left]Requests do not have to be in writing. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(h).[/align]
[align=left]B. The requester generally does not have to identify himself or herself. Wis. Stat.[/align]
[align=left]§ 19.35(1)(i). Caution: Certain substantive statutes, such as those concerning[/align]
[align=left]student records and health records, may restrict record access to specified persons.[/align]
[align=left]When records of that nature are the subject of a public records request, the custodian[/align]
[align=left]should confirm before releasing the records that the requester is someone statutorily[/align]
[align=left]authorized to obtain the requested records. See Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(i) for other[/align]
[align=left]limited circumstances in which a requester may be required to show identification.[/align]
[align=left]C. The requester does not need to state the purpose of the request. Wis. Stat.[/align]
[align=left]§ 19.35(1)(h) and (i).[/align]
[align=left]
[/align]
[align=left]“Magic words” are not required.[/align]
[align=left][/align]
[align=left]1. A request which reasonably describes the information or record requested is[/align]
[align=left]sufficient. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(h).[/align]
[align=left]2. A request, reasonably construed, triggers the statutory requirement to[/align]
[align=left]respond. For example, a request made under the “Freedom of Information[/align]
[align=left]Act” should be interpreted as being made under Wisconsin public records[/align]
[align=left]law. See ECO, Inc. v. City of Elkhorn, 2002 WI App 302, ¶ 23,[/align]
[align=left]259 Wis. 2d 276, ¶ 23, 655 N.W.2d 510, ¶ 23.[/align]
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[align=left]VII. The Response to the Request.[/align]
[align=left][/align]
[align=left]A. Mandatory. The custodian must respond to a public records request. ECO, 2002[/align]
[align=left]WI App 302, ¶¶ 13-14, 259 Wis. 2d 276, ¶¶ 13-14, 655 N.W.2d 510, ¶¶ 13-14.[/align]
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[align=left]B. Timing. Response must be provided “as soon as practicable and without delay.”[/align]
[align=left]Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(a).[/align]
[align=left]1. The public records law does not require response within any specific time,[/align]
[align=left]such as “two weeks” or “48 hours.”[/align]
[align=left]2. DOJ policy is that ten working days is generally a reasonable time for[/align]
[align=left]response responding to a simple request for a limited number of easily[/align]
[align=left]identifiable records. For requests that are broader in scope, or that require[/align]
[align=left]location, review or redaction of many documents, a reasonable time for[/align]
[align=left]responding may be longer. However, if a response cannot be provided[/align]
[align=left]within ten working days, it is DOJ’s practice to send a communication[/align]
[align=left]indicating that a response is being prepared.[/align]
[align=left]3. What constitutes a reasonable time for a response to any specific request[/align]
[align=left]depends on the nature of the request, the staff and other resources[/align]
[align=left]available to the authority to process the request, the extent of the request,[/align]
[align=left]and related considerations. Whether an authority is acting with reasonable[/align]
[align=left]diligence in responding to a particular request will depend on the totalityof circumstances surrounding that request. WIREdata II, 2008 WI 69,[/align]
[align=left]¶ 56, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ¶ 56, 751 N.W.2d 736, ¶ 56.[/align]
[align=left]4. Requests for public records should be given high priority.[/align]
[align=left]5. Compliance at some unspecified future time is not authorized by the[/align]
[align=left]public records law. The custodian has two choices: comply or deny.[/align]
[align=left]WTMJ, Inc. v. Sullivan, 204 Wis. 2d 452, 457-58, 555 N.W.2d 140, 142[/align]
[align=left](Ct. App. 1996).[/align]
[align=left]6. An authority should not be subjected to the burden and expense of a[/align]
[align=left]premature public records lawsuit while it is attempting in good faith to[/align]
[align=left]respond, or to determine how to respond, to a public records request.[/align]
[align=left]WIREdata II, 2008 WI 69, ¶ 56, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ¶ 56, 751 N.W.2d 736,[/align]
[align=left]¶ 56.[/align]
[align=left]7. An arbitrary and capricious delay or denial exposes the custodian to punitive[/align]
[align=left]damages and a $1,000.00 forfeiture. Wis. Stat. § 19.37. See Section XIII.,[/align]
[align=left]below.[/align]
[align=left]C. Format. If the request is in writing, a denial or partial denial of access also must be[/align]
[align=left]in writing. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(b).[/align]
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