← Back to Search
Matthew Cortland, Esq. v. Department of Transitional Assistance (SPR 20180807)
Massachusetts Public Records Appeal · Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond · Filed 06-06-2018
ClosedAppealPetitioner Won
SPR 20180807 is a Massachusetts Public Records Law appeal filed by Matthew Cortland, Esq. concerning records held by Department of Transitional Assistance, opened 06-06-2018. Type: Appeal. Status: Closed. Supervisor of Public Records determination: Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond.
Case Details
- Case Number
- 20180807
- Case Type
- Appeal
- Case Subtype
- Initial
- Status
- Closed
- Requester
- Matthew Cortland, Esq.
- Date Opened
- 06-06-2018
- Date Closed
- 06-20-2018
- Date Request Submitted
- 04-30-2018
- Response Provided Date
- 05-21-2018
- Processing Fees Charged
- 0.00
- Petitions Regarding Fees
- No
- Time to Comply
- 2 Business Days (6-22-18)
- Went to Court
- No
PDF Document
Extracted Text (searchable & copyable)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records June 20,20 18 SPR181807 Berlinda Bernard Paralegal Specialist Department of Transitional Assistance 600 Washington St., 5thF loor Boston, MA 021 1 1 Dear Ms. Bernard: I have received the petition of Matthew Cortland, Esq. appealing the response of the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66, 9 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Attorney Cortland requested "controlling document(s) defining 'Household' as the Department of Transitional Assistance uses the term 'household' in administering the Massachusetts State Supplement Program." In its response to Attorney Cortland on May 2 1,2018 , DTA indicated "records responsive to your request can be found in DTA regulations, 106 C.M.R. 327.000 et seq, located on DTA's websites at http://www.mass.gov/lists/dta-regulations." Attorney Cortland appealed due to DTA "failing to respond to my request of April 30th, 201 8 within 10 business days" and for giving a "non-responsive reply." Subsequent to the intervention by a staff member of the Public Records Division, I learned that a representative from DTA intends on providing Attorney Cortland with a supplemental response clarifying if it has records responsive to the request. Accordingly, DTA is ordered to provide a response to Attorney Cortland made in accordance with the Public Records Law, its Access Regulations and this order within ten business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@,sec.state.ma.us.A ttorney Cortland may appeal the substantive nature of DTA's response within ninety days. 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, u Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Matthew Cortland, Esq. One Ashburton Place, Room 1719 , Boston, Massachusetts 02108 (617) 727-2832. Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre pre@sec.state.ma.us