State Records Committee Appeal Decision 2021-34

BEFORE THE STATE RECORDS COMMITTEE OF THE STATE OF UTAH

ROBERT SLOMAN, Petitioner, v.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, Respondent.

DECISION AND ORDER

Case No. 21-34

On June 10, 2021, the State Records Committee (“Committee”) held an in-person hearing at the Taylorsville State Office Building, during which both parties participated electronically. After considering the arguments presented by both parties, the Committee voted unanimously to continue the present case until the Committee’s next available hearing to allow the ongoing process of records production to continue. At the next hearing, both parties will give a status report on records production. The parties are encouraged to negotiate between themselves to allow the respondent to explore using different search parameters and are also encouraged to mediate with the Government Records Ombudsman, Rosemary Cundiff.

ORDER

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED THAT the appeal of Petitioner, Robert Sloman, is hereby CONTINUED.

RIGHT TO APPEAL

A party to a proceeding before the Committee may seek judicial review in District Court of a Committee's Order by filing a petition for review of the Committee Order as provided in Utah Code § 63G-2-404. Utah Code § 63G-2-403(14). A petition for judicial review of a Committee Order "shall be filed no later than 30 days" after the date of the Committee Order. Utah Code § 63G-2-404(1)(a). The petition for judicial review must be a complaint which is governed by the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure and include the Committee as a necessary party and contain the required information listed in Subsection -404(2). Utah Code § 63G-2-404(1) & (2). The court shall make its decision de novo but shall allow introduction of evidence presented to the Committee, determine all questions of fact and law without a jury, and decide the issue at the earliest practical opportunity. Utah Code § 63G-2-404(6). In order to protect parties’ rights on appeal, a party may wish to seek advice from an attorney.

PENALTY NOTICE

Pursuant to Utah Code § 63G-2-403(15)(c), if the Committee orders the governmental entity to produce a record and no appeal is filed, the government entity herein shall comply with the order of the Committee and shall: (1) Produce the record; and (2) File a notice of compliance with the Committee. If the governmental entity ordered to produce a record fails to file a notice of compliance or a notice of intent to appeal, the Committee may do either or both of the following: (1) Impose a civil penalty of up to $500 for each day of continuing noncompliance; or (2) Send written notice of the entity's noncompliance to the Governor. Utah Code § 63G-2-403(15)(d)(i)(B). In imposing a civil penalty, the Committee shall consider the gravity and circumstances of the violation, including whether the failure to comply was due to neglect or
was willful or intentional. Utah Code § 63G-2-403(15)(d)(ii).

Entered this 21 day of June 2021

BY THE STATE RECORDS COMMITTEE

KENNETH R. WILLIAMS
Chair, State Records Committee