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HomeMy Public PortalAboutPRR 17-2488Renee Basel From: Chris O'Hare <chrisoharegulfstream@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2017 5:09 PM To: Bill Thrasher, Rita Taylor, Renee Basel Subject: Request to Inspect the record of any letters or emails sent from Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor to Town resident Martin O'Boyle dated Jan 26, 2017 Dear Custodian of Records, I request to inspect certain public records in the custody of the Town of Gulf Stream including in the custody of the Town Attorney. Please ask the Town Attorney if she has any responsive records besides the ones you may have. The records I request to inspect are any Town of Gulf Stream* public records** of letters or emails sent from Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor to Town resident Martin O'Boyle dated Jan 26, 2017. While I am not statutorily obligated to explain why I want to inspect these records, I tell you it is for the purpose of informing myself of the historic and current workings of the Town of Gulf Stream and its associated entities, vendors, consultants, advisers, contractors and agents. The records I wish to inspect may also be material to current, anticipated or presently unforeseen legal action. In addition, inspection of these records may be essential to my ability to make informed comments in an upcoming public hearing. The production of any and all responsive records is therefore urgent and must be acted upon in compliance with Florida Statutes and established case law as soon as possible. Before making this public record request, I first searched online and in the public records portion of your agency's website hoping I could locate the public records I seek without having to write you directly. Unfortunately I cannot find the records I wish to inspect. Therefore I am writing you now and requesting you make every effort as required by law to produce these public records without delay. I make this request pursuant to Article 1, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution and Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. I hereby reserve all rights granted to me under the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes. I ask that you take the following action: • Read this entire request carefully and respond accordingly. • If you are not the custodian of the public records described herein please determine who that person is and notify me immediately in order that I may make this request to the appropriate person without delay. • Reference Florida Statutes and appropriate case law when responding to this record request. • Do NOT produce any records other than records responsive to this request. " Identify by name the person or persons responding to this request if that person is not the Custodian of Records for your agency as required by 119.070 )(b). " Respond to this public record request in a singular manner and do not combine this request with any other public record requests when responding to this request. " Once you have determined that you do or don't have any records in your custody responsive to this request, immediately act to obtain any responsive records that may be in the custody of your contractor(s) or other parties. " Provide only those records for inspection that do not require extensive use of information technologies or extensive staff time or both in excess of 15 minutes. " If records responsive to this request are not presently available but you expect that they will soon be available I request that you produce the records as soon as they are available. I ask you to take note of �119.07(1)(c) Florida Statues and your affirmative obligation to (1) promptly acknowledge receipt of this public records request and (2) make a good faith effort which "includes making reasonable efforts to determine from other officers or employees within the agency whether such a record exists and, if so, the location at which the record can be accessed." I am, therefore, requesting that you notify every individual and entity in possession of records that may be responsive to this public records request, including individuals and entities under contract with your agency, to preserve and produce all responsive records on an immediate basis. If you contend that any of the records I am seeking, or any portion thereof, are exempt from inspection or disclosure please cite the specific exemption as required by �119.07(1)(e) of the Florida Statutes and state in writing and with particularity the basis for your conclusions as required by �119.07(1)(f) of the Florida Statutes. Produce for my inspection all responsive records and ONLY redact that portion of the record that you consider exempt. To be clear, if you consider an entire record to be exempt, produce that record in its entirety with all portions redacted that you consider exempt. I specifically ask you to do this in order that I may inspect fully redacted records for the purpose of challenging a particular redaction or establishing a reference for a future request of a record that is only temporarily exempt, as in the case of a public record that was prepared by an agency attorney exclusively for litigation and is only exempt from disclosure until the conclusion of the litigation. If the public records being sought are maintained by your agency or contactors for your agency, in an electronic format please produce the records in the original electronic format in which they were created or received. See �119.01(2)(f), Florida Statutes. Again I ask that you provide only those records for inspection that do not require extensive use of information technologies or extensive staff time or both in excess of 15 minutes. Take note of �119.07(4)(a)3.(d) Florida Statues and if you anticipate that any records exist, the production for inspection of which will require extensive use of information technologies or extensive staff time or both in excess of 15 minutes, then please provide those records that can be produced within the first 15 minutes and advise me of the cost you anticipate to be incurred by your agency for the remaining records prior to incurring this cost. Please do not incur any costs on my behalf without first obtaining my written authorization to proceed. If you produce only a portion of all existing responsive records, please tell me that your response includes only a portion of all existing records responsive to this request. If you anticipate the need to incur any costs that I would be statutorily required to pay in order to inspect these public records which would exceed $1.00 please notify me in advance of your incurring that cost with a written estimate of the total cost. Please be sure to itemize any estimates so as to indicate the total number of pages and/or records, as well as to distinguish the cost of labor and materials. Again, please do not incur any costs on my behalf without first obtaining my written authorization to proceed. A record that does not exist because of its disposition requires the creation of a disposition record. In all instances where you determine a record does not exist please determine if the record once existed and in its replacement provide the disposition record for my inspection. *The phrase 'Town of Gulf Stream" when used herein refers to the Town in its entirety and all entities of the Town including all employees, appointees, officials, assignees, counsel and consultants including Town Manager, Town Clerk, Town Police Chief, Town Commissioners, Town Mayor, Town Departments, Town Police Officers, Town Employees, Town Staff Attorney, Town Engineer, the law firm (Jones Foster Johnston & Stubbs P.A.) that claims to be the Town Attorney including all attorney, partner and employee members of that firm; the Town Counsel of Sweetapple, Broeker & Varkus including all attorney, partner and employee members of that firm, the Town Counsel of Richman Greer, P.A. including all attorney, partner and employee members of that firm and any other entity associated with the Town and subject to public records law. **The term "public records" when used herein has the same meaning and scope as the definition of Public Records adopted by the Florida Legislature as Statutes Chapter 119. If you do not understand any part of this request or if you need clarification about this request, notify me as soon as possible so I may further describe or clarify this request. Due to issues of delivery failure and occasional rejection by your server this email is being sent to multiple recipients to insure prompt delivery. All responses to this public records request should be made in writing to the following email address: chrisoharegulfstream@gmail.com TOWN OF GULF STREAM PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA Delivered via e-mail January 30, 2017 Chris O'Hare [mail to: chrisoharegulfstreain( gmail.com] Re: GS #2488 (Request to inspect the record of any letters or emails sent from Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor to Town resident Martin O'Boyle dated Jan 26, 2017) The records I request to inspect are any Town of Gulf Stream * public records** of letters or emails sent from Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor to Town resident Martin O'Boyle dated Jan 16, 1017. Dear Chris O'Hare [mail to: chrisoharegulfstreamCaDgmail.coml: The Town of Gulf Stream has received your public records request dated January 29, 2017. The original public records request can be found at the following link: hft://www2.gulf-strearn.org/weblink/O/doc/104984/Pagel.asvx Please be advised that the Town of Gulf Stream is currently working on a large number of incoming public records requests. The Town will use its very best efforts to respond to you in a reasonable amount of time with the appropriate response or an estimated cost to respond. Sincerely, pp" As requested by Rita Taylor Town Clerk, Custodian of the Records TOWN OF GULF STREAM PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA Delivered via e-mail February 15, 2017 Chris O'Hare [mail to: chrisoharegulfstreamaQanail.coml Re: GS #2488 (Request to inspect the record of any letters or emails sent from Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor to Town resident Martin O'Boyle dated Jan 26, 2017) The records I request to inspect are any Town of Gulf Stream * public records ** of letters or emails sent from Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor to Town resident Martin O'Boyle dated Jan 26, 2017. Dear Chris O'Hare [mail to: chrisohareeulfstream(@¢tnail.coml: The Town of Gulf Stream has received your public records requests dated January 29, 2017. You should be able to view your original request and response at the following link: htty://www2.gulf-stream.ore/weblink/O/doc/104984/Paee l .aspx The Town has also attached them for your convenience. We consider this request closed. Sincerely, i:",d JZ"" $44.e1 As requested by Rita Taylor Town Clerk, Custodian of the Records Renee Basel From: OConnor, Joanne M. <JOConnor@jonesfoster.com> Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2017 11:22 AM To: Marty O'Boyle Cc: Randolph, John C. Subject: RE: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases; Judge Small Case Marty — My client is and always has been willing to entertain a reasonable settlement offer from you that we can take to the Town Commission for consideration, whether as to one case or multiple cases. However, the Town does not believe that a full day mediation will be productive at this time. Thanks, Joanne JONESFOSTER - Jull�StpYk51Vkk6 rA Joanne M. O'Connor Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation Attorney Telephone: 561.650.0498 1 Face: 561.650.5300 1 ioconnor 'onesfoster.com Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A. Flagler Center Tower, 505 South Flagler Drive, Suite 1100, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 561-659-3000 1www.jonesfoster.com Incoming emails are filtered which may delay receipt. This email is personal to the named recipient(s) and may be privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you received this in error. If so, any review, dissemination, or copying of this email is prohibited. Please immediately notify us by email and delete the original message. From: Marty O'Boyle [mailto:moboyle@commerce-group.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 5:36 PM To: OConnor, Joanne M. <JOConnor@jonesfoster.com> Subject: FW: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases; Judge Small Case This message originated from outside your organization Joanne — much appreciated. Thank you. Do you have an idea as to when I may hear from you regarding our recent conversation? PS: Do you or the Town have any interest in settling the Judge Small case (which I was just reminded of -as it is #1 on your list!)? Martin E. O'Boyle, Commerce Group, Inc 1280 W. Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FI. 33442 Direct Dial: 954-570-3505 Fax: 954-360-0807 Cell: 561 213 3486 E-mail: moboyle(cDcommerce-group.com Web Page: www.commerce-group.com From: OConnor, Joanne M.[mailto:]OConnorCaljonesfoster.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 5:30 PM To: Marty O'Boyle Cc: William Ring Subject: RE: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases Here is what I have for public records and other cases brought by you or your entities and by CAFI. Let me know if you disagree. JONESFOSTER Joanne M. O'Connor Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation Attorney Telephone: 561.650.0498 1 Pax: 561.650.5300 1 ioconnor@jonesfoster.com Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A. Flagler Center Tower, 505 South Flagler Drive, Suite 1100, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 561-659-3000 1 www.jonesfoster.com Incoming emails are filtered which may delay receipt. This email is personal to the named recipient(s) and may be privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you received this in error. If so, any review, dissemination, or copying of this email is prohibited. Please immediately notify us by email and delete the original message. From: Marty O'Boyle [mailto:mobovle@commerce-group.coml Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 1:51 PM To: OConnor, Joanne M. <JOConnor@ionesfoster.com> Cc: William Ring <wrine@commerce-group.com> Subject: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases This message originated from outside your organization Joanne —could you send me your case sheet so we know we are singing out of the same hymn book? Martin E. O'Boyle, Commerce Group, Inc 1280 W. Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FI. 33442 Direct Dial: 954-570-3505 Fax: 954-360-0807 Cell: 561 213 3486 E-mail: moboyle(cDcommerce-aroup.com Web Page: www.commerce-group.com Renee Basel From: OConnor, Joanne M. <JOConnor@jonesfoster.com> Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2017 11:28 AM To: Marty O'Boyle Subject: RE: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases; Judge Small Case Marty— Your position below, which suggests that any settlement of every case against the Town must involve payment and an admission of liability by the Town seems to contradict our telephone conversations. I do not believe it is good faith for you to expect that an admission of liability and payment of attorney's fees to you by the Town in each and every case. Good faith settlement efforts involve a recognition on both sides of the strengths and weaknesses of their respective positions. And because the only issue in a public records suit is whether a violation occurred or not, and does not implicate damages, settlement discussions must begin with that issue and not the issue of attorney's fees to which your lawyers may be entitled. Regards, Joanne JONESFOSTER tuussu��nsu ons.rs. Joanne M. O'Connor Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation Attorney Telephone: 561.650.0498 1 Fax: 561.650.5300 1 joconnor(@jonesfoster.com Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A. Flagler Center Tower, 505 South Flagler Drive, Suite 1100, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 561-659-3000 1 www.jonesfostcr.com Incoming etnails are filtered which may delay receipt. This email is personal to the named recipient(s) and may be privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you received this in error. If so, any review, dissemination, or copying of this email is prohibited. Please immediately notify us by email and delete the original message. From: Marty O'Boyle [mailto:moboyle@commerce-group.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 6:56 AM To: OConnor, Joanne M. <JOConnor@jonesfoster.com> Subject: Re: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases; Judge Small Case This message originated from outside your organization Joanne - I do not want to debate the validity of the litigation in Judge Small's case. All I know is that the costs keep rising. I have no interest on a walk away and I am not intimidated by the Town's unending 57.105 letters. One thing that I have learned in connection with my dealings with the Town's battery of counsellors; and that is that Sweetapple and your firm (in my opinion) are unnecessarily fleecing the Town's taxpayers. In that connection, it further appears that certain of the Town's lawyers appear to be making a fortune with their many unnecessary actions. Your firm and the Sweetapple firm have created a "cottage industry" by representing a Town with an "out of control" mayor and a populous is not paying attention to the costs. Incidentally, when you or Sweetapple make your next disparaging speech to the Town's residents, why not tell the taxpayers how fat the pockets of the lawyers have gotten. Joanne - I think what I just said is the reason that you are withdrawing from these litigation... quite frankly, from a distance, it looks like you and Sweetapple are of a different ilk. Joanne, I don't see you as being a creep. Please don't prove me wrong. If t what you said below is the start of what you and the Town view as good faith settlement efforts (and the below is a hint on how the Town wishes to settle one, several or all matters), count me out. Now, the above aside, if the Town is interested in a settlement they will make a reasonable effort to make that happen. I now leave things in your hands. PS: my book is almost full for February. I do however have (as of this moment) next Thursday and Friday available. After that, I don't yet know. I look forward to hearing from you, but walkaways and threats will not get us out of the starting gate. Your signals are unclear. Please do not waste my time! Thank you and good day. Martin E. O'Boyle, Commerce Group, Inc. 1280 W. Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FL. 33441 Direct Dial., 954-570-3505 Fax: 954-36007 Cell: 561-213-3486 Email: mobovlelacommeme-erouo.com Web Page: www.commerce-erouo.com — Original message ----- From: OConnor, Joanne M. Date: Tue, Jan 24, 2017 5:50 PM To: Marty O'Boyle; Cc: Subject:RE: Gulf Steam\O'Boyle Cases; Judge Small Case You will hear from me by Thursday noon if not sooner (I will be out Thursday afternoon and Friday). The Town felt very good following the trial of the case before Judge Small. I do note that the Town has pending a Motion for Sanctions pursuant to Fla. Stat. 57.105 in that case and might consider a proposal from you to dismiss your claims in exchange for a withdrawal of the Town's request for fees. Again, I encourage you to either make reasonable, individual offers or a global offer that can be discussed with the commission in a shade meeting and responded to accordingly. JONESFOSTER Joanne M. O'Connor Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation Attorney Telephone: 561.650.0498 1 Fax: 561.650.5300 1 joconnor_,jonesfoster.com Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A. Flagler Center Tower, 505 South Flagler Drive, Suite 1100, % est Palm Beach, Florida 33401 561-659-3000 1 www.jonesfoster.com Incoming emails are filtered which may delay receipt. This email is personal to the named recipient(s) and may be privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you received this in error. If so, any review, dissemination, or copying of this email is prohibited. Please immediately notify us by email and delete die original message. From: Marty O'Boyle [mailto:mobovle(@commerce-¢roup.com) Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 5:36 PM To: OConnor, Joanne M. <JOConnor@ionesfoster.com> Subject: FW: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases; Judge Small Case This message originated from outside your organization Joanne —much appreciated. Thank you. Do you have an idea as to when I may hear from you regarding our recent conversation? PS: Do you or the Town have any interest in settling the Judge Small case (which I was just reminded of- as it is #1 on your list!)? Martin E. O'Boyle, Commerce Group, Inc 1280 W. Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FI. 33442 Direct Dial: 954-570-3505 Fax: 954-360-0807 Cell: 561 213 3486 E-mail: moboyle .commerce-group.com Web Page: www.commerce--qroup.com From: OConnor, Joanne M.[mailto:]OConnor(abjonesfoster.comj Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 5:30 PM To: Marty O'Boyle Cc: William Ring Subject: RE: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases Here is what I have for public records and other cases brought by you or your entities and by CAFI. Let me know if you disagree. JONESFOSTER Joanne M. O'Connor Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation Attorney Telephone: 561.650.0498 1 Fax: 561.650.5300 1 ioconnor_jonesfoster.com Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A. Ilagler Center Tower, 505 South Ilagler Drive, Suite 1100, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 561-659-3000 1 www.jonesfoster.com Incoming emails are filtered which may delay receipt. 'I'his email is personal to the named recipient(s) and may be privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you received this in error. If so, any review, dissemination, or copying of this email is prohibited. Please immediately notify us by email and delete the original message. From: Marty O'Boyle (mailto:mobovlePcommerce-group.coml Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 1:51 PM To: OConnor, Joanne M. <JOConnor@oonesfoster.com> Cc: William Ring <wring(@commerce-group.com> Subject: Gulf Stream\O'Boyle Cases This message originated from outside your organization Joanne —could you send me your case sheet so we know we are singing out of the same hymn book? Martin E. O'Boyle, Commerce Group, Inc 1280 W. Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FI. 33442 Direct Dial: 954-570-3505 Fax: 954-360-0807 Cell: 561 213 3486 E-mail: moboyle(ocommerce-group.com Web Page: www.commerce-group.com