Jim Haddadin v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority - Office of the General Counsel (SPR 20210723)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records April 6, 2021 SPR21/0723 Julie Ciollo, Esq. Assistant General Counsel/Records Access Officer Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 10 Park Plaza, Suite 3910 Boston, MA 02116 Dear Attorney Ciollo: I have received the petition of Jim Haddadin of NBC10 Boston appealing the response of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (Authority/MBTA) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On March 17, 2021, Mr. Haddadin requested “. . . copies of videos showing the derailment of an Orange Line train in the vicinity of Wellington Station in Medford on March 16, 2021.” The Authority responded on March 19, 2021, denying access to responsive records pursuant to Exemption (f) of the Public Records Law. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26)(f). Unsatisfied with the Authority’s response, Mr. Haddadin petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR21/0723, was opened as a result. The Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.03(4). “Public records” is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any town of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(iv); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see also Dist. Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. If there are any fees associated with a response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(viii); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2). Once fees are paid, a records 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

Julie Ciollo, Esq. SPR21/0723 Page 2 April 6, 2021 custodian must provide the responsive records. The Authority’s March 19th response In its March 19, 2021 response, the Authority states that “. . . the video you are requesting has been compiled out of the public view and is currently being examined by MBTA personnel as they investigate the March 16th derailment. . . .[R]eleasing video at this time would be detrimental to the ongoing investigation, as facts continue to be gathered and observations, hypotheses, and interim conclusions are made. When the investigation has concluded, or reached such a stage that video can be safely disseminated, a further response can be provided to you.” Exemption (f) Exemption (f) permits the withholding of: investigatory materials necessarily compiled out of the public view by law enforcement or other investigatory officials the disclosure of which materials would probably so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure would not be in the public interest G. L. c. 4, § 7(26)(f). A custodian of records generally must demonstrate a prejudice to investigative efforts in order to withhold requested records. Information relating to an ongoing investigation may be withheld if disclosure could alert suspects to the activities of investigative officials. Confidential investigative techniques may also be withheld indefinitely if disclosure is deemed to be prejudicial to future law enforcement activities. Bougas v. Chief of Police of Lexington, 371 Mass. 59, 62 (1976). Redactions may be appropriate where they serve to preserve the anonymity of voluntary witnesses. Antell v. Att’y Gen., 52 Mass. App. Ct. 244, 248 (2001); Reinstein v. Police Comm’r of Boston, 378 Mass. 281, 290 n.18 (1979). Exemption (f) invites a “case-by- case consideration” of whether disclosure “would probably so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure would not be in the public interest.” See Reinstein, 378 Mass. at 289-90. Where the video recording pertains to an ongoing investigation, I find the Authority may permissibly withhold the responsive record from disclosure under Exemption (f) at this time. Please be aware that the change in the status of the investigation could impact the applicability of Exemption (f). Conclusion Accordingly, I will consider this administrative appeal closed.

Julie Ciollo, Esq. SPR21/0723 Page 3 April 6, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Jim Haddadin