Thank you for registering with Morris County Public Records Center.

Your Login ID is:  [OPRA #60270 email]

If you did not submit your request through the public portal but are
receiving this e-mail, an account has been created for you where you can
track and monitor the status of your request, and receive any documents in
response to your request.

If you have never used this system or cannot remember your password you
may request a temporary password here: [1]Request Temporary Password

Please login to [2]My Request Center to update your account information,
track the status of your request and receive requested records when they
become available.

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email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.

References

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1. https://morriscountynj.mycusthelp.com/WE...
2. https://morriscountynj.mycusthelp.com/WE...

Dear Joseph Bouvier:

Thank you for your interest in open public records of Morris County OPRA
Center.  Your request has been received and is being processed in
accordance with the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). Your request was given
the reference number C008006-040424 for tracking purposes.

Records Requested: Dear Morris County, This is a request for public
records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not
required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this
message. Records requested: (1) Invoices received by Morris County and/or
the Clerk's Office from January 2020 to the present for legal fees and
other expenses related to the defense of the lawsuit entitled Conforti, et
al. v. Hanlon, et al., Civil Action No. 20-08267, which lawsuit pertains
to a challenge to the "grid" ballots used in New Jersey elections and use
of a "county line" for endorsed candidates; (2) Records of all payments
made by Morris County and/or the Clerk's Office or any entity/person on
its behalf toward the invoices received in the Conforti v. Hanlon lawsuit,
as referenced in request (1) above; (3) Invoices received by Morris County
and/or the Clerk's Office from January 2024 to the present for legal fees
and other expenses related to the defense of the lawsuit entitled Kim, et
al. v. Hanlon, et al., Civil Action No. 20-08267, which lawsuit seeks a
preliminary injunction prohibiting the use of "grid" ballots in New Jersey
elections and use of a "county line" for endorsed candidates, and all
invoices pertaining to an appeal of the judge's decision in such lawsuit;
and (4) Records of all payments made by Morris County and/or the Clerk's
Office or any entity/person on its behalf toward the invoices received in
the Kim v. Hanlon lawsuit, as referenced in request (3) above. Yours
faithfully, Joseph F. Bouvier

Your request will be forwarded to the relevant County department(s) to
locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs
associated with satisfying your request. You will be contacted about the
availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question.
 PLEASE NOTE: The State Public Information Act does not require a
governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to
answer questions.

You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll
receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you
for using the Morris County OPRA Center.

County of Morris, NJ

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

To monitor the progress or update this request please log into
the [1]Morris County OPRA Center.

References

Visible links
1. https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/clic...

--- Please respond above this line ---

 
 
RE: OPRA REQUEST of Reference # C008006-040424
 
Dear Mr. Bouvier: 
 
The County of Morris received a public records request from you on April
04, 2024. Specifically, you requested:
 
“Dear Morris County,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law
right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please
acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
(1) Invoices received by Morris County and/or the Clerk's Office from
January 2020 to the present for legal fees and other expenses related to
the defense of the lawsuit entitled Conforti, et al. v. Hanlon, et al.,
Civil Action No. 20-08267, which lawsuit pertains to a challenge to the
"grid" ballots used in New Jersey elections and use of a "county line" for
endorsed candidates;
(2) Records of all payments made by Morris County and/or the Clerk's
Office or any entity/person on its behalf toward the invoices received in
the Conforti v. Hanlon lawsuit, as referenced in request (1) above;
(3) Invoices received by Morris County and/or the Clerk's Office from
January 2024 to the present for legal fees and other expenses related to
the defense of the lawsuit entitled Kim, et al. v. Hanlon, et al., Civil
Action No. 20-08267, which lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction
prohibiting the use of "grid" ballots in New Jersey elections and use of a
"county line" for endorsed candidates, and all invoices pertaining to an
appeal of the judge's decision in such lawsuit; and
(4) Records of all payments made by Morris County and/or the Clerk's
Office or any entity/person on its behalf toward the invoices received in
the Kim v. Hanlon lawsuit, as referenced in request (3) above.

Yours faithfully,

Joseph F. Bouvier”
 
The County of Morris has reviewed its files and has determined there are
no responsive documents to your request.
 
Your OPRA request is now deemed answered and closed. Thank you for your
attention to this matter.
 
If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, you may
contact my office at (973) 829-8126. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Sheila M. Leary, CPM
 
Administration
 
 

To the extent that you have also requested access to the above government
records under the common law, your stated interest in obtaining the
records must be balanced against the County of Morris’ interest in
nondisclosure. See Loigman v. Kimmelman, 102 N.J. 98 (1986).  The
foregoing response to your request for access to government records
incorporates the aforementioned balancing test. Please note that "a
party's status as a litigant does not enlarge its access to government
records under OPRA”. MAG Entm't, LLC v. Div. of Alcoholic Beverage
Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 545-46 (App. Div. 2005). The County of
Morris reserves the right to raise any other grounds for denial not raised
in this response. Failure of the County of Morris to assert an exemption
or privilege does not act as a waiver of any grounds for
denial. Furthermore, a reviewing Court or the Government Records Council
("GRC") may deem a denial of access to be authorized on grounds other than
those advanced by a custodian. See Paff v. Twp. of Plainsboro,
A-2122-05T2, 2007 WL 957289, at *2 (App. Div., Apr. 2, 2007), affirming,
Paff v. Township of Plainsboro, GRC Complaint No. 2005-29 (March 2006). If
your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled, you have a right to challenge the decision by the County of
Morris to deny access. At your option, you may either initiate a
proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with
the GRC by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact
the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at P.O. Box 819,
Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at [1][email address], or on its website
at [2]www.state.nj.us/grc. The GRC can also answer other questions about
the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should
be directed to the Court Clerk in your County.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

To monitor the progress or update this request please log into
the [3]Morris County OPRA Center.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/clic...
3. https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/clic...

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: OPRA REQUEST of April 04, 2024, Reference # C008006-040424.

Dear Mr. Bouvier:

The County of Morris received a public records request from you on April
04, 2024. Specifically, you requested:

“Dear Morris County,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law
right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please
acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
(1) Invoices received by Morris County and/or the Clerk's Office from
January 2020 to the present for legal fees and other expenses related to
the defense of the lawsuit entitled Conforti, et al. v. Hanlon, et al.,
Civil Action No. 20-08267, which lawsuit pertains to a challenge to the
"grid" ballots used in New Jersey elections and use of a "county line" for
endorsed candidates;
(2) Records of all payments made by Morris County and/or the Clerk's
Office or any entity/person on its behalf toward the invoices received in
the Conforti v. Hanlon lawsuit, as referenced in request (1) above;
(3) Invoices received by Morris County and/or the Clerk's Office from
January 2024 to the present for legal fees and other expenses related to
the defense of the lawsuit entitled Kim, et al. v. Hanlon, et al., Civil
Action No. 20-08267, which lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction
prohibiting the use of "grid" ballots in New Jersey elections and use of a
"county line" for endorsed candidates, and all invoices pertaining to an
appeal of the judge's decision in such lawsuit; and
(4) Records of all payments made by Morris County and/or the Clerk's
Office or any entity/person on its behalf toward the invoices received in
the Kim v. Hanlon lawsuit, as referenced in request (3) above.

Yours faithfully,

Joseph F. Bouvier”

The County of Morris has reviewed its files and has located responsive
records to your request. Please log in to the Morris County OPRA Center at
the following link to retrieve the appropriate responsive documents.

[1]Morris County - Open Public Records Request - C008006-040424

Your OPRA request is now deemed answered and closed. Thank you for your
attention to this matter.
 
If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please contact
my office at 973-829-8126.

Sincerely,

Sheila M. Leary, CPM

Administration

To the extent that you have also requested access to the above government
records under the common law, your stated interest in obtaining the
records must be balanced against the County of Morris’ interest in
nondisclosure. See Loigman v. Kimmelman, 102 N.J. 98 (1986).  The
foregoing response to your request for access to government records
incorporates the aforementioned balancing test. Please note that "a
party's status as a litigant does not enlarge its access to government
records under OPRA”. MAG Entm't, LLC v. Div. of Alcoholic Beverage
Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 545-46 (App. Div. 2005). The County of
Morris reserves the right to raise any other grounds for denial not raised
in this response. Failure of the County of Morris to assert an exemption
or privilege does not act as a waiver of any grounds for
denial. Furthermore, a reviewing Court or the Government Records Council
("GRC") may deem a denial of access to be authorized on grounds other than
those advanced by a custodian. See Paff v. Twp. of Plainsboro,
A-2122-05T2, 2007 WL 957289, at *2 (App. Div., Apr. 2, 2007), affirming,
Paff v. Township of Plainsboro, GRC Complaint No. 2005-29 (March 2006). If
your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled, you have a right to challenge the decision by the County of
Morris to deny access. At your option, you may either initiate a
proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with
the GRC by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact
the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at P.O. Box 819,
Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at [2][email address], or on its website
at [3]www.state.nj.us/grc. The GRC can also answer other questions about
the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should
be directed to the Court Clerk in your County.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

To monitor the progress or update this request please log into
the [4]Morris County OPRA Center.

References

Visible links
1. https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/clic...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/clic...
4. https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/clic...

Good afternoon Mr. Bouvier,

Attached are the responsive records that were provided.

Respectfully,
Sheila M. Leary

Sheila M. Leary, CPM
OPRA Officer / CBA - Board Secretary
County of Morris - Admin
PO Box 900
Morristown, NJ 07963-0900
voice: (973) 829-8126
fax: (973) 285-5266
[Morris County request email]

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