Oregon AG: It'll cost $80,000 to review e-mails in resignation of special environmental counsel Brent Foster

SALEM -- The Oregon attorney general says it will cost $80,000 to review 21,500 e-mails sought by Republican lawmakers over the resignation of Brent Foster, the former special counsel for the environment.
Attorney General John Kroger made the estimate in a letter today to Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli.
Republican lawmakers want to know more about Foster’s role in the state’s opposition to development of liquefied natural gas facilities. One of those projects has gone broke.
Kroger says 64 e-mails that have been reviewed show no evidence of impropriety, but cannot be released because of attorney-client privilege.
Kroger has asked Marion County authorities to investigate Foster’s conduct in the investigation of water pollution charges against a Hood River juice manufacturer.
The Associated Press

Newport Mayor shreds performance evaluation records considered to be public

By Larry Coonrod
Newport News Times
Posted: Friday, Feb 26th, 2010
Copyright 2010 News Media Corporation

After publicly denying the existence of a completed evaluation form for the Newport city attorney and city manager, Mayor Bill Bain admitted this week that he destroyed the document in early January. It’s an admission that could have implications in a pending lawsuit by Dennis Reno, the city’s former airport director who was fired last October.
Bain admitted this week that he destroyed the document in early January. Bain said. “I understand now that I probably shouldn’t have done that.” See full story

Attorney General's Public Records and Meetings Manual available online

Attorney General John Kroger has placed the Attorney General's Public Records and Meetings Manual on the Department of Justice web site, so that those who want to use the book do not have to buy it. Previously, the book was only available by purchasing it from the Department of Justice for about $20. The manual, which carries the weight of a formal Attorney General Opinion, includes discussion of both public records and meetings laws as well as numerous appendices with commonly asked questions, court rulings, Attorney General Opinions and other useful information. To view the manual click here: http://www.doj.state.or.us/public_records/manual.shtml

Illinois public records laws and practices frustrate general public seekers

The Chicago Tribune has completed a study of how Illinois local and state officials respond to public records requests and prevent citizens from seeing public documents. See the article at "Weak laws let officials stonewall citizens."

Oregon Court of Appeals rules that autopsy reports are disclosable public records

The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that autopsy reports are not exempt from disclosure under Oregon's public records law. To see the ruling, click on Autopsy Reports public.

Open Oregon publishes two new guides in November 2007:

An updated Quick Reference Guide to Oregon's Public Meetings Law [get it here] and a new Quick Reference Guide to Oregon's Public Records law [get it here]

Created in collaboration with the Oregon Attorney General's office, these quick reference guides are intended for public officials and public bodies as well as citizens seeking access to their government's information and meetings. They are free, although we may ask for postage for large quantities of them. Go to info@open-oregon.com to request copies.

2007 Legislative session ends with some progress on laws affecting public records

Tom Gallagher and Sarah Myers, lobbyists for the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, report on the legislature's actions on a variety of bills affecting public records and other matters. See their report here.

Jackson County district attorney orders Medford school district
to disclose names of residents who commented on health curriculum

On an appeal by the Medford Mail Tribune, Mark Huddleston, the Jackson County district attorney, ordered the school district to disclose the contents of letters and e-mails, including the senders' names, of public comments on the district's new health curriculum. See district attorney's letter order.

Multnomah County district attorney orders Portland Development
Commission to disclose facts gathered by agency attorney

The Multnomah County district attorney has ordered a public agency, the Portland Development Commission, to release purely factual information gathered by an attorney (the agency had cited attorney-client privilege). Click on Lawyer-Client Privilege limitations

Public records access audit shows resistance, some compliance
among public records keepers in dozens of Oregon jurisdictions

The audit, called Project Open Oregon, was organized by the Associated Press Newspaper Executives organization and by the Oregon chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The project was intended to provide a snapshot of what members of the public might encounter when trying to access government documents they're legally entitled to review. To view the audit results, news stories about it, and local reaction, click on Freedom of Information Audit

You can now search the Open Oregon web site for a wide
variety of information, including rulings and briefs

Use the "Search this Site" link in the table of contents (or on this link). You will get a search box plus tips on searching. Type in your search terms and click on "Search" or hit "Enter." You will get the links to all documents that have words matching your search terms. Click on Go to Sample Index for an index of sample letters, briefs, court cases, etc.

Do you have questions?

If you need more information about Open Oregon or have questions, please fill out the forms below, enter your name and E-Mail address, and click on the "Send Comments" button.

 
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Index of sample letters, court decisions, etc., that might be helpful. Click on the highlighted link
Oregon Supreme Court grants access to Portland School District records of alleged employee theft
Oregon Court of Appeals ruling granting access to Portland police disciplinary records
Sample request to unseal a search warrant and affidavits
Sample request to open an arrest warrant and affidavits
Brief summary and citation on access to juvenile courts
Sample letter to request camera coverage in court
Media Law Research Center's survey on newsroom subpoenas
Cameras in courts rule -- UTCR3.180
HIPAA Tips (thanks to Therese Bottomly) -- HIPAA FAQ
Hospital information (HIPAA - an article from The Oregonian) and a guide from the Media Law Resource Center (HIPAA Guide MLRC)
Portland City Attorney opinion on how Fire Bureau is not covered by HIPAA
Sample court memo on media coverage of high profile case (State v. Kip Kinkel)
Marion Judge orders SAIF to turn over records
Oregon Court of Appeals rules Portland Police disciplinary records in Kendra James case are open
District attorneys in Baker County and Clackamas County order disclosure of notices of tort claims.
Several courts have ruled that defendants' mental health reports are public. Here's one ruling
Josephine County judge rules teacher resignation agreement is public.
Multnomah District Attorney rules attorney-client privilege doesn't apply to factual information
Jackson County District Attorney orders school district to release names, comments on health curriculum
Appeals Court rules prisoner execution preparations are public under Constitution
Open Oregon publishes updated Quick Reference Guide to Oregon's Public Meetings Law (November 2007)
Open Oregon publishes new Quick Reference Guide to Oregon's Public Records Law (November 2007)

This web site has been made possible by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the National Freedom of Information Coalition
August 19, 2008

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