Patterson, Steven v. Braintree, Town of - Town Solicitor (SPR 20150454)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords October 5, 2015 SPRlS/454 Mr. Brian K. Riley, Esq. Kopelman and Page. P.C. 101 Arch Street Boston, MA 02110 Dear Attorney Riley: This office has received a petition from Steven Patterson appealing the response of the Town of Braintree (Town) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, he requested copies records regarding legal actions to which the Town is a party. Mr. Patterson narrowed his request in subsequent correspondence with the Town. Previous appeals and determinations This request was the subject of previous appeals. See SPR14/534 Determination ofthe Supervisor of Records (October 20, 2014); SPR14/637 Determination ofthe Supervisor of Records (January 6, 2015). In a response dated October 1, 2015, then Town Solicitor Peter Morin provided Mr. Patterson with a fee estimate of $6,715.00 for the provision of any "complaint or answer" filed "in a court that has not been sealed," excluding small claims and criminal cases, within the last five (5) years. Mr. Patterson subsequently narrowed his request to exclude Land Court cases and to include only those actions which were brought within the last five years. I found the Town failed to meet its burden in responding to Mr. Patterson's request to inspect these records and ordered it to provide Mr. Patterson with a revised fee estimate. SPR14/637 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (January 6, 2015). Mr. Morin provided Mr. Patterson with a revised fee estimate of $262.00 for the provision of records in a letter dated May 20, 2015. Subsequently, I was informed that Mr. Morin was no longer the Town Solicitor and that you were now handling this matter. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre

Mr. Brian K. Riley, Esq. SPR15/454 Page Two October 5, 2015 Provision of records at no charge A member of my staff confirmed with you that Mr. Patterson is now only seeking to inspect copies of any civil complaint or answer filed in a court, other than the Land Court and Small Claims Court, within the last five years that have not been sealed. In a response dated September 25, 2015, you provided Mr. Patterson with copies of complaints and answers that are responsive to his request. You provided these copies at no charge. Mr. Patterson informed this office that he received the records and that they consist of less than 50 pages. Whereas you provided Mr. Patterson with copies of the responsive records at no charge, I will consider this appeal closed. ours, a Yupervisor of Records cc: Mr. Steven Patterson