Tony Gaskins v. Essex District Attorney's Office (SPR 20232185)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records September 27, 2023 SPR23/2185 David O’Sullivan, Esq. Chief Law Enforcement Officer Essex District Attorney’s Office Ten Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 Dear Attorney O’Sullivan: I have received the petition of Tony Gaskins appealing the nonresponse of the Essex District Attorney’s Office (Office) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On August 14, 2023, Mr. Gaskins requested “[t]he entire file(s) that is within your office of my entire case file(s), from the year 1991 to the present including but not limited to the following:” [1.] All police reports, incident reports, witness(es) interviews, written notes by the Lynn Police Department; [2.] All communications between this office and any police officials, written, audio, text messages, emails, memos, etc. from the Office; [3.] Any and all hospital records, ambulance records, doctors [and] nurse report[s] and any and all medical files concerning [an identified individual’s] stay in the hospital for eight days until his death. Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Gaskins petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2185, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it is unclear whether a response has been provided. Accordingly, the Office is ordered to provide Mr. Gaskins with a response to the request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law, and its Regulations within 10 business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Gaskins may appeal the substantive nature of the Office’s response within 90 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

David O’Sullivan, Esq. SPR23/2185 Page 2 September 27, 2023 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Tony Gaskins