Legal invoices
Dear Ocean County,
Pursuant to OPRA and the common law right of access, please produce:
Copies of all legal invoices for the law firm Berry Sahradnik Kotzas & Benson since July 6, 2020. (I only seek the ones relating to the firm's representation of the County in the "county line" lawsuits, i.e. Conforti & Kim lawsuits.)
I am not required to fill out an official form. I have not been convicted of a felony. This is not a commercial request. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Yours faithfully,
Tom S. Smith
Mr. Smith,
This office received your OPRA request today, 4/16/2024. The Ocean County
Comptroller has advised that the County maintains their payment files by
vendor name, not by lawsuit. Kindly provide clarification to ‘the ones
relating to the firm's representation of the County in the "county line"
lawsuits, i.e. Conforti & Kim lawsuits’, as to whether you are looking for
invoices related to specific lawsuits, so that we may proceed accordingly.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I. Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[1]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[2]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [3][email address], or via
their website at [4]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Tom S. Smith <[OPRA #60732 email]>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 5:14 PM
To: OPRA <[Ocean County request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
This message has originated from an External Source. Please use proper
judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or
responding to this email.
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Dear Ocean County,
Pursuant to OPRA and the common law right of access, please produce:
Copies of all legal invoices for the law firm Berry Sahradnik Kotzas &
Benson since July 6, 2020. (I only seek the ones relating to the firm's
representation of the County in the "county line" lawsuits, i.e. Conforti
& Kim lawsuits.)
I am not required to fill out an official form. I have not been convicted
of a felony. This is not a commercial request. Please acknowledge receipt
of this message.
Yours faithfully,
Tom S. Smith
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[5][OPRA #60732 email]
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Dear Gunther, Michelle,
If you don't maintain them by lawsuit, then please just produce all records (payments & invoices) by vendor and we will sort them ourselves.
Yours sincerely,
Tom S. Smith
Mr. Smith,
This office received your clarification today, 4/17/2024. My response to
your request is due next Friday, 4/26/2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I. Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[1]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[2]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [3][email address], or via
their website at [4]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Tom S. Smith <[OPRA #60732 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 11:41 AM
To: Gunther, Michelle <[email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
Dear Gunther, Michelle,
If you don't maintain them by lawsuit, then please just produce all
records (payments & invoices) by vendor and we will sort them ourselves.
Yours sincerely,
Tom S. Smith
Mr. Smith,
This office received your OPRA request on Monday, 4/15/2024 and
clarification on Wednesday, 4/17/2024. The Ocean County Finance
Department is copying the requested records and have requested a 1-week
extension of time to respond. With this extension, my response to your
OPRA request is due no later than next Friday, 5/3/2024. Should the
records become available beforehand, I will be sure to notify you.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I.
Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[1]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[2]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [3][email address], or via
their website at [4]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Tom S. Smith <[OPRA #60732 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 11:41 AM
To: Gunther, Michelle <[email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
Dear Gunther, Michelle,
If you don't maintain them by lawsuit, then please just produce all
records (payments & invoices) by vendor and we will sort them ourselves.
Yours sincerely,
Tom S. Smith
Mr. Smith,
This office received your OPRA request on Monday, 4/15/2024 and
clarification on Wednesday, 4/17/2024. On Friday, 4/26/2024, this office
notified you that the Ocean County Finance Department was copying the
requested records and had requested a 1-week extension of time to respond,
extending the due date for records until today, Friday, 5/3/2024. While
the records have been copied, they are currently being reviewed for any
necessary redaction(s) and a one-week extension of time has been
requested. With this extension, my response to your OPRA request is due
no later than next Friday, 5/10/2024. Should the records become available
beforehand, I will be sure to notify you.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I. Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[1]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[2]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [3][email address], or via
their website at [4]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Gunther, Michelle
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 1:58 PM
To: Tom S. Smith <[OPRA #60732 email]>
Cc: Benvenuto, Danielle <[email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
Mr. Smith,
This office received your OPRA request on Monday, 4/15/2024 and
clarification on Wednesday, 4/17/2024. The Ocean County Finance
Department is copying the requested records and have requested a 1-week
extension of time to respond. With this extension, my response to your
OPRA request is due no later than next Friday, 5/3/2024. Should the
records become available beforehand, I will be sure to notify you.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I.
Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[5]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[6]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [7][email address], or via
their website at [8]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Tom S. Smith
<[9][OPRA #60732 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 11:41 AM
To: Gunther, Michelle <[10][email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
Dear Gunther, Michelle,
If you don't maintain them by lawsuit, then please just produce all
records (payments & invoices) by vendor and we will sort them ourselves.
Yours sincerely,
Tom S. Smith
Mr. Smith,
This office received your OPRA request on Monday, 4/15/2024 and
clarification on Wednesday, 4/17/2024. On Friday, 4/26/2024, this office
notified you that the Ocean County Finance Department was copying the
requested records and had requested a 1-week extension of time to respond,
extending the due date for records until, Friday, 5/3/2024. On, Friday,
5/3/2024, this office notified you that the records had been copied and
were currently being reviewed for any necessary redaction(s) and had
requested an additional 1-week extension of time to respond, extending the
due date for records until today, 5/10/2024. In response to your request,
kindly refer to the attached records, as provided by the Ocean County
Finance Department.
Lastly, thank you for your continued patience. Due to the sheer volume of
records for the time period requested, the Ocean County Finance Department
required this additional time to ensure the records provided were
responsive to the request. This response completes your request.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I. Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[1]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[2]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [3][email address], or via
their website at [4]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Gunther, Michelle
Sent: Friday, May 3, 2024 3:10 PM
To: Tom S. Smith <[OPRA #60732 email]>
Cc: Benvenuto, Danielle <[email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
Mr. Smith,
This office received your OPRA request on Monday, 4/15/2024 and
clarification on Wednesday, 4/17/2024. On Friday, 4/26/2024, this office
notified you that the Ocean County Finance Department was copying the
requested records and had requested a 1-week extension of time to respond,
extending the due date for records until today, Friday, 5/3/2024. While
the records have been copied, they are currently being reviewed for any
necessary redaction(s) and a one-week extension of time has been
requested. With this extension, my response to your OPRA request is due
no later than next Friday, 5/10/2024. Should the records become available
beforehand, I will be sure to notify you.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I. Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[5]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[6]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [7][email address], or via
their website at [8]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Gunther, Michelle
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 1:58 PM
To: Tom S. Smith <[9][OPRA #60732 email]>
Cc: Benvenuto, Danielle <[10][email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
Mr. Smith,
This office received your OPRA request on Monday, 4/15/2024 and
clarification on Wednesday, 4/17/2024. The Ocean County Finance
Department is copying the requested records and have requested a 1-week
extension of time to respond. With this extension, my response to your
OPRA request is due no later than next Friday, 5/3/2024. Should the
records become available beforehand, I will be sure to notify you.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle I.
Gunther
Clerk of the Board
Ocean County Board of Commissioners
101 Hooper Avenue, P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, New Jersey 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2005
[11]https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmOpraLaw.aspx
[12]county-seal-sm
OPRA: RIGHT OF APPEAL
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the County of Ocean to deny access. At
your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court
of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council
(“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC toll-free via telephone at 866-850-0511, via mail at P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, via e-mail at [13][email address], or via
their website at [14]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
From: Tom S. Smith
<[15][OPRA #60732 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 11:41 AM
To: Gunther, Michelle <[16][email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Legal invoices
Dear Gunther, Michelle,
If you don't maintain them by lawsuit, then please just produce all
records (payments & invoices) by vendor and we will sort them ourselves.
Yours sincerely,
Tom S. Smith