An ongoing index to the topics in the FOIA Friday column, including some index entries for stories that I wish I had written.

A B C D E

Absurdly overbroad requests. Badly formed FOIA requests, and how to avoid making requests that create an intolerable administrative burden. (4/2/10)

Abuse of FOIA. Unreasonable people filing unreasonable requests. (1/29/10)

Appeal of rejection, how to. The mechanics of preparing an appeal letter. (1/8/10)

Appeal of rejection, police records. How to appeal your rejection when law enforcement withholds records. (1/14/11)

Appeal of rejection, reasons to. Some common rejections that deserve an appeal. (8/27/10)

Audits of FOIA processes.. Systematic ways to assess agency FOIA efforts. (2/3/11)

Courtesy, and discretion. Imploring you to be warm and friendly in your relationships with FOIA clerks, even as you are demanding and exacting in your written correspondence.

Confidentiality.

Copyrighted materials.

Deliberative process exemptions.

Denials.

Delays.

Electronic mail, as records.

Estimates, of fees. Why you should always specify a maximum that you are willing to pay for a FOIA request. (8/6/10)

F G H I J

Fees, appeal of

Fees, maximum allowed by law.

Fees, minimizing. How to keep costs for FOIA requests to a minimum. (8/6/10)

FOIA Coordinator.

FOIA requests, as public records

Forms, and the importance of filling out legibly

Forms, automated redaction of.

Forms, design of

FERPA, and student records

Inspection, of records. Rather than duplicating records, ask to inspect them in person.

Information, as distinct from records. There is no obligation to create a new report or record to satisfy your request for information; ask for records that already exist. (8/13/10)

Jurisdiction. Where you can file a FOIA lawsuit in Michigan.

K L M N O

Legal fees, awards for.

Legistar.

Meeting minutes

Meeting minutes, draft, inspection of

Meeting minutes, missing

National security, restrictions on data, dams. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission access restrictions after 9/11. (1/28/11)

National security, restrictions on data, pipelines. National Pipeline Mapping System access restrictions after 9/11. (7/30/10)

Non-response, as rejection

Open Meetings Act

Open Meetings Act, notification of meetings. City of Ann Arbor use of an uncontrolled tack strip for meeting notices. (1/20/11)

P Q R S T

Permits. (4/29/10)

Photocopying, cost of, comparison of

Privacy Act

Personal privacy

Personal privacy, of corporations

Records retention policies.

Redaction.

Redaction, appeal of.

Redaction, done poorly. (12/11/09)

Redaction, of telephone numbers

Redaction, of electronic mail addresses

Redaction, of postal addresses.

Balancing personal privacy vs the right to know for location information, and methods for partial redaction that improve access.

Reidentification of redacted materials. Techniques used to piece together and identify redacted information from other sources. (2/11/11)

Rejection, study of. Learning from your mistakes and the mistakes of others when FOIA requests do not return the desired results. (5/7/10)

Rejection, appeal of

Resumes, of candidates. On keeping searches for candidates for senior positions confidential.

Reverse FOIA. Lawsuits to block the release of public records. (4/16/10)

Separation of exempt and non-exempt materials.

Sidewalks, request for inspection records. Requesting information about inspection records for broken or dangerous sidewalks. (7/2/10)

Trade secrets.

Traffic accidents.

U V W X Y Z

Unreasonable requests.

Video.

Video, extraction of from proprietary surveillance camera systems.

Video, redaction of.

Viewing public records.

Public Data

Public data, autopsy reports.

Public data, bedbugs.

Public data, census.

Public data, contracts.

Public data, court records.

Public data, drain maintenance records.

Public data, maps, Washtenaw County. The MapWashtenaw system.

Public data, pipeline safety.

Public data, potholes.

Public data, property records. Looking up parcel ownership and transaction history in Washtenaw County. (12/17/10) 

Public data, rental housing inspections.

Public data, river flows.

Public data, restaurant inspections.

Public data, salaries of government employees.

Public data, sidewalk inspections.

Public data, snow removal.

Public data, traffic accidents.

Edward Vielmetti writes the FOIA Friday column for AnnArbor.com.