Jill Chow v. Waltham, City of - Law Department (SPR 20201272)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records August 13, 2020 SPR 20/1272 Katherine Laughman, Esq. Assistant City Solicitor City of Waltham 610 Main Street Waltham, MA 02452 Dear Attorney Laughman: I have received the petition of Jill Chow appealing the response of the City of Waltham (City) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Ms. Chow’s revised request seeks “any final judgments, consent decrees, settlement agreements, or other records reflecting the disposition of lawsuits filed within the last 10 years against the City of Waltham or its Police Department in state or federal court for violations of individuals’ civil rights by police personnel, including but not limited to complaints of excessive force and any actions brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.” The City responded to Ms. Chow on June 22, 2020, providing a fee estimate for the production of responsive records. Unsatisfied with this fee estimate, Ms. Chow petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR 20/1272, was opened as a result. Current Appeal In her appeal petition, Ms. Chow asserts that the City did not respond within the ten day timeframe, and accordingly may not charge a fee for the production of records. Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, the City provided a new response on August 5, 2020, producing responsive records. In light of the City’s response, I will consider this administrative appeal closed. If issues remain outstanding, Ms. Chow may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Katherine Laughman, Esq. SPR20/1272 Page 2 August 13, 2020 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Jill Chow