Portfolio Media, Inc. v. New York State Off. of Ct. Admin.

2025 NY Slip Op 32102(U)

• Court: New York Supreme Court, New York County
• Decided: June 12, 2025
• Docket: Index No. 159592/2022
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Portfolio Media, Inc. v New York State Off. of Ct. Admin. 2025 NY Slip Op 32102(U) June 12, 2025 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 159592/2022 Judge: Lisa S. Headley Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. INDEX NO. T59592/2022 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 71 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/12/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. LISA S. H EA DEL Y PART 28 Just;ce ------------~H·------~~---------------~--- ---------------- X INDEX NO. 15959212 02 2 PORTFOLIO MEDIA, I NC Plaintiff, • V. MOTrON DATE 06/20/2024

NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF COURT MOTION SEQ. NO. 001 ADMINISTRATION, Defendant. DECISION + ORDER ON MOT,ON

The fof1owing e-filed documents. listed by NYSCEF document number (Moticn 001} 2, 17. 18. 19. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.25.26,27. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. 38. 43, 44, 45,46,47.48.49, SO, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,59.60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65. 66,67 were res d on th is motion to/for _ _ _ __A_RTICLE 78 { BODY OR OFFICERj

Procedural H i~ton-· On K ove:nbcr 8. 2022, petitioner, Portfolio l\-lcdia, lnc.} (hereinart~r, "Petitioner") filed this Article 7R pctit ion for j u Vtri fied Petition. (See, il/YSCF.F Doc. }/o. 65). Then~ on Junj; 18, 2024, the Pciitioner Iikd an Amended ~otiec of Peli Lion. (See, NYSCLF Doc. ,Vo. 66). . Portfolio )Iedia Inc. 's PetiHon for Judkia] H.n•jew of FOIL Request Denials The PctEtioncr is th~ pubhshcr for Lav..-3 60, \vhic h reports on the Nev,,- York St cite Court System. I\-lr. Frank Runyeon ("Mr. Runyeon") is a reponer with Law360. On April 11, 2022, ~1r. Runyeon submitted a FOil, request seeking four categories of documents l:oncemi ng the operations of the Office of the Inspector General ("OICi-"). The request included:

'· l) Any and all reports~ data, tabulations~ Hsting,'I', databases, statistics or rccord.s in their native electronic format (xis, P OF~ emni], etc.) regarding tht proccs:1oing, in,·e~tigation and/or outcome of com plaints by the Office of the Inspector General for New York State Courts since ,lanual")' 1 1 2010 -· including but not lim~tcd to the Oflice

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of the Managing Inspector General for Bi~ Mutters, Office of the \fanaging Inspector {Jcncral fc)r Fiduciary Appointment~, or other element~ of the 01 Cr\ Otfo.:e. This would irn;h.1iception. and for the first time, the privacy ex~~ption. (Sec, Exhi/-Jit I. ,V}SCEF Doc. ,-Vo. I 2). On s~ptember 4. 2022, Mr. Runyeon filed an appeal orthe August 5, 2022 ••finul response." On Septemb~r 22, 2022, OCA responded to the appeal: and explained that pursuant to Public Ojjlcers Lau-' f.YR9(-I), Mr.. Runycon was not entitled to additional appeals of OCJ\'s ddennination

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of the originaJ April 11, 2022 FOIL request. {See, F.xhibit K, NYSCl.!,'F Dnc. ,Vo. 1-1). Thereafter on t

(2) Lach agency shatl, in u'.:corda.nce with its published rul~s, make available for public inspection ~rid copying all records~ except tho-;e records or portions 1hereol' lhal may be wi1hhcld pursuant to ih~ exceptions of rights of access appearing in this subdivision. A d~nial of access shall not be based solely on the category or type or such record and shall be valid only when there is a particularized and specific justification f

The privacy exception delineated in Puhlic (!(/icers LITTI--' §89(2)(b) states:

(b) An unwarranted invasion ot· personal privacy includes. but shall not he limi kd tu: i. disdosurc of crnploymt:nL, medical or credit hjstorics or pcr.:;onal ri;for~nces of applicants for employment; ii. di s.do_'jure of items involving. the medical or personal records of a client or patient in a mtdica.l facility; iii. sflle or release of li~ts of name::s und addresses jf such lists would be used for solicitation or fund-raising purp(x,es~ iv. disclosure or in fmmation of a personal nalllre when disclo&ure would rc=olllt in e~onornic or personal hardship to the subject party an

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The Respondent suhmits, inter alia, the Affirmation of Brielle Christian, Deputy Counsd to OCA (see, ATL\'CEF Doc..Vo. 44); the Affirmmion of Kay-Ann Porter C.!111pbell (''the Campbell /\ffirmation), the Jnspector General of the OCA (see. ,\·'l~'5CEF Doc. No. 58)~ and the J\·kmoranJum or Lav,.: on behalf of Respondent (see ..\TXCEF Doc. }-lo. 59). ln opposition, Respondent asserts th.at the Pe1itioner already received record responses to FOIL Requ~st # 2, seeking inter alta rosten,;, li.~ts or directories of employees who wo rkcd for the Office of lnspeetor General. Specifically, on July 27. 2022, \he Re\pon~knl provided a response to H)IL Rey_ uesl #2, '·by prnviding a list of cum:nl OTG -Slaff tilled, ,"I list of all former OIG staff v.--i1h titles, including dates c-ach former staff m~rnbtr depmted from service, as well as the Adrninistrutive Order which created the OTO. Respondent aho claims that they responded ln FOIL Reque~t # 3, seeking inter a1ia, operatjon:s or polic~' manuals. Specifically, a~ to Rt'qu~sL #3, R~~pondent provided petitioner v,,:ith !he publicly available wcbstte for the OIG, whic:h contains information as to the operations of the OIG. Thcrcforc 1 the petition is moot as to categories 2 and 3. (See. NYSCFF fJcK. ,Vo. 59). Respondent aho cont~nd.s that they provided the following :-;ubslantive responses to ~--Ir. Runycon's FOIL Re4ue0h # 2 and# 3. FOIL REOl:EST #1 The intomrntion re4uested under FOIL request # t, includes c:omp]aints, interview notes, \:vitne.:;~ sW.Ltments, investigative memoranda~ audio rec.::ordings, reports, case files, and other r~lated records. Respondent argues that OCA i;-; justified in denying_ the FOlL Request 4I for po~l- invcstigatt vc memorandum and correspQnding_ case file-cl LH the H1as M alters LT nit, nnd Fiduciary .l\ppointmenls Cnit. Respondent submtts that lhe Pe Li lion er wus advised on August 5, 2022~ that uther than cas1.-:.spccific complaint.:;, investigutive reports. and determinations~ there \Vere no fldditional records 10 prm--,J~ in response to f OJL Request f. 1. The Respondent

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exemption to disdosure." Citing to }v'ew York Comm. For Occupational Safety & Health v. B!oomherg, 72 A.D.3d 153, 158 (1st Dcp't 201 O}. The Pet1tion~r asserts that the l·'OIL request is not limited to the records \vi thin 01 G's po:'isession, rather the request is directed to the Uni fi.ed Court System as a whole as to Re4ue<:>t #1. The undisclosed in frlm1ution sought under FOIL request #- I p~rtains lo complaints, interview notes, witn~.-:;s statements, investigative memoranda, audio recordings, reports, case files. and mher rel uted records The Petitioner contends that the inLra-agency exception docs not apply hec:~u~e the requested doc\lmcnts arc final agency Jeterminmions m1d are factual information~ neither of \.vhich arc subj eel 10 the exempLi cm. Tbe Petitioner further contends that at most, OCA ought to redact non-factual inJc.mnation, but the information sought is s.ubject to disc losln~. The question therefore is v,,:hethcr the invcqiga1i ve memorandum und the ca.se file qm:ilify hrr non-disclosure under the privacy exception. "Ca~e luw recognizes ,ei compelling. public interest in the .i ob performance nf puhl ic o 1·11 c.:iul ~ which, in most circumstances. ts found to outweigh the official\ persona! privacy interests.." See, e.g .• Mulgrew v. Bd ,f Edm;. (f City Sd1. Dist. cf City of }Vew York, 87 AD3d 506, 508 (1st Dept. 2011 }; see also, roc/rn..•ood 1.'. ,Vassau Cnry. Police nep'{, 78 Misc. 3d 1219(A). 185 J\.Y.S.3d 657 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2023). Public O[ficers Law §89(2)(h) provides that 1he agency may "delete identifying details when it makes r~c:ords available." Puh/ic qfjicf:'rs Lmv §89(2)(b). Herc. the Rc~pondent contends thut the information provided by witnesses and other persons inlcrview~d for an investigation arc subj cct to confidentiality. Respondent r·urtlit>r con tends that 010 also invcstjgatcs complaints again~l ih employees for a(.·Liun~ outside of the workplace, and that should not he subjec:t tl) disclo~ure under FOH ,. The Petitioner, on the other hand. contends that Lh~ privacy ~xception does not justif}r \vithholding the documents sought in their enl1rety. This Cou~t finds that FOJI. R~quesL #1 seeks some information that wnuld he covered under Fublic (!tficers l.uw }89(2)(b;, As ~uch. jnformation including, th~ disclosure of employment, medical or (;Ttdit histories or personal reference.:; of appl icanb for employment shall not be pem1itled for disclosure. id. Nonetheless) information :s,ought by the Petitioner, including the interview notes and investigative memoranda, must be redacted. Furthermore~ if redaction or the identifying information woul J ::-till violate the privacy exception undl::r Puhiic (?fficers Lmv .f89(2j(aj, the document:'i musl not be disclosed. See also, Beyah.-. (roord, 309 A.D.2d 1049, 1053, 766 N.Y.S.2d 222, 227 (3d Dcp"t ?003 ); 1/urris v. Cily University of New York, Baruch Coilege, 114 A.D.2d 805, 495 N.Y.S.2d 175 ( ls.t Dep't t 985). [Redaction of identifying names allowed \vhere deJetion \vould not impede petitioner's ability to compare hi:'i credentials to those or nL11~r professional employees hut would protect individuals tnvol vc

apprnx1maLdy 54 pages of budgeL requests and workload analy-;e_'j," (See. }./YSCEF Doc ,Vo. Nat ~j34). Respondent also argues that OCA is justified in denying a portion of FOIL request #4, with respect to lhe intemaJ discussion of OIG budget requests. The Petitioner claims that the withheld

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infrmnation, include apprnx1inately 12 internal email exchanges bct\vccn members of the OIG leadership team based 011 the intra-agency exemption. ··A denial of access shall 1101 be based soldy on the category or· type of such reconl and shal I be vulid only \Vhcn there is a pa1ticularizcd and speci fie justification for such Jeni al.,. See, Public Officers Law §87(2)(g). ~-The intra-agency ~nd inter~agency exemption-; allow m1 agency to withhold re~orndtm outside consullant, so long c1s. the ag.cncy has retained that consuhant, and it functions as the agency's employee or ~gent."' S'ee, Weinstock •'· New York State Urb. Dei-'. Corp., 81 T\.--fisc. 3d 977, 985 86, 199 N. Y. S.3d 794, 802 (N. Y. Sup. Ct. 2023 ). [Citations omitted j. ·'The exemption encourages ·p~opJe within an ag-2ncy to exchm1ge opinions, advice and criticism freely and frankly. \.vithout the chining prospect of public disclosure'." Id. "Thus, records that rell e~L ·opinions, ideas~ or advice exchanged a~ part of the consul tali v~ or deli bcrat ivc pro ce s~ of go ve rnrn cnt deci ~1 on m (1k ing' arc ex cm pt from Ji sc lo sure ... in c:ontrast to factual dala or objective informmion, \vhich must be disclo~ed." Id. al 803. Herc, the FOIL Request H4 pertains to the internal discussions nf the OIG budget, which do not squarely f~ll vvithin any of the above-mentioned categories under Public O_(ficers rmv §X.7(lj(gi. Accordingly, the pctil1oner·s request for disclo.:;ure 0f FOIL Request #4, including the undi siJosed e-mails that contain '·factual data or ohjectiv~ informatjon", is granted.

Atc.ordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that th~ portion of the petition compelling disclosure or FOJT.. Requests #2 and #3 is mnot for Lhe re(lsons stated herein; und it is further ORDF.RED that the portion of· the petition compeHing disclosure of H)lL Requ~st #1 is G RA)JTF.D IN PART~ and to the extent that identi f'ying information~ incl wJing names and addresses, in the ··complc.1.jnt~, interview notes, \vilness statement:-\ in vestig

This constitutes the Decision and Ord~T of the Court.

6/1212025 DATE HON. LISA S. HEADLEY

~ Cl-r-cCK ONE: GASE DISPOSi=O NON-FIN.AL DISP DS ITIO N

GFlA NTED □ Di=NIED GRANii;;O IN PART □ OTHER APPUCA TlO N: SETlL.i: ORDER SUB MIT O~OcR

CtiECK IF APPROPR!A TE:: INCLUOES TFi:ANSFER/REASSIGN FmUCIARY APPOINTMENT

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