(This is the fourth blog in a five-part series on streamlining public records request response.) By Rick Clark Managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or similar public records requests in State or Local government agencies is a complex process that requires meticulous attention to detail and adherence to strict timelines. While having the right technology and skilled personnel is crucial, efficient processes are equally important to ensure compliance with transparency laws and provide timely responses to requests. The first step in the FOIA request management process is the receipt of the ..read more

(This is the fifth and final blog in a five-part series on streamlining public records request response.) By Rick Clark When starting the journey in changing your processes around managing these requests, it can be like a hiker staring up a mountain from the base, but it does not have to be that difficult. Many eDiscovery platforms have standardized processes in data management and review for decades and there are eDiscovery providers, like CloudNine, who have created an easy path to success with not only the technology, but advice is streamlining processes with public requests. Here are some ..read more

This is the third blog post in a series on streamlining public records request response. By Rick Clark When it comes to managing FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and similar public records requests, resourcing your team effectively is crucial. Even with a small team, you can achieve a lot by appointing an expert internally and implementing a few key strategies. Begin by identifying which departments receive the most FOIA requests. Assign a lead within each department to work closely with the FOIA Clerk or the person responsible for managing FOIA requests within your organization. For example ..read more

This is the second blog post in a series on streamlining public records request response. By Rick Clark In the two separate worlds of legal processes and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/public records requests, eDiscovery technology and standard workflows have emerged as powerful ways to streamline operations and ensure compliance. Particularly, the handling of FOIA requests and public records requests showcases the potential similarities between these processes and eDiscovery workflows. One key similarity lies in the meticulous management of data, starting from governance levels and progres ..read more

In the realm of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), legal challenges are inherent, as affirmed by construction litigator Jordan Nadel of Mark Migdal & Hayden. A recent Arcadis study highlights a 42% surge in construction lawsuits in North America from 2021 to 2022, attributing this spike to ongoing COVID-19 effects, supply chain woes, and escalating material costs. Stakeholders in the AEC industry grapple with heightened expectations, emerging environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements, and disruptions from supply chain issues all impacted by climate change. The ..read more

By Rick Clark The number of public records requests filed each year is on the rise, presenting a significant challenge for government agencies. One of the core obstacles faced by these agencies is the tight timing constraints imposed by laws governing these requests. Failure to meet these deadlines can result in severe consequences. To effectively manage these requests, agencies must augment their processes with people, processes, and technology. Some of the additional challenges include: Volume of Requests: The high volume of requests can overwhelm agencies with limited resources. This includ ..read more

By Rick Clark Spending the past 20+ years in forensics, eDiscovery, and investigations has kept me in a legal conference circuit lane, but this week I stepped into a new and interesting adjacent world: information technology leadership in public service. This conference is formally called the California Public Sector CIO Academy and its organizer, e.republic, hosted over 800 attendees from all over the state. When preparing to attend the conference, I reviewed the agenda, speakers and keynotes and was pleasantly surprised that most of the curriculum was focused on personal and professional dev ..read more

Since the inception of legal processes in ancient societies, documents have been pivotal in evidence and discovery. In recent years, with the rise of email and electronically stored information (ESI), technology companies have standardized review and production processes around these data, converting them into the standard source of discovery: documents. This process has been functional and the data quite usable, until the advent of short messaging in business and personal communications. Starting with the end in mind, the format we seek to produce for the requesting party is still a document ..read more

This was not the same old Legalweek, or “LegalTech New York,” as the conference was referred to in years past. With over 6,000 registered attendees and 37% being first timers, the high level of excitement generated by participants about being in person with peers was palpable in the sessions and events held. There was also a greater embracing of new ways of getting legal done, with can’t-be-ignored tech like GenAI, data management and handling the ever-growing modern data in discovery cracking open the remaining closed doors to innovation for law firms, government and corporate teams alike. Th ..read more

By Rick Clark Last week CloudNine and Integreon discussed a recent audit with tight deadlines with Louis (Lou) Brucculeri, EVP and General Counsel at West Technology Group. West Technology Group, a global technology company with a portfolio of brands with disparate systems and processes, initiated a significant internal audit. Early on they recognized that they needed experienced help and engaged CloudNine for support in managing nearly 100,000 documents within an unexpectedly tight timeframe. Initially envisioned as a routine project, the scope expanded, revealing hundreds of GBs of data that ..read more