Request for deaths records (Allegheny County)

Matt Kiefer filed this request with the Allegheny County of Allegheny, PA.
Tracking #

W005941-061620
Multi Request Request for deaths records
Submitted June 12, 2020
Status
Rejected
Tags

From: Matt Kiefer

Subject: Pennsylvania Right to Know Act Request: Request for deaths records (Allegheny County)

Portal

To whom it may concern:

This is a request pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act. We are requesting death records dating back to Jan. 1, 2020, with the following information for each case:

- case number
- decedent name
- date of death
- location of death
- race
- ethnicity
- age
- gender
- occupation/industry
- whether injury/infection occurred at work
- incident location (street address, city, state, ZIP where injury/infection occurred)
- incident date
- decedent residence (street address, city, state, ZIP)
- cause(s) of death (indicating if COVID related)
- contributing factors
- any other accessible, non-exempt information contained in electronic case records

This request is part of an ongoing collaboration involving the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University, the MuckRock Foundation and partner newsrooms across the country. This request is part of a news-gathering process and is intended for educational, not commercial use.

We request expedited processing to the extent possible. This information is critical to the public’s understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and its local impact on public health. Let us know if we can help clarify this request in any way. Please also consider waiving any fees for producing the requested records.

Please provide the data in spreadsheet format as an e-mail attachment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. We look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

--
Matt Kiefer
John S. Knight Journalism Fellow
Stanford University
312-380-5163‬

From: Allegheny County

Subject: Public Records Request :: W005941-061620

Portal

Dear Matt Kiefer,

Welcome to the Allegheny County Right to Know (RTK) Open Records Center. We have received your RTK Request.

Thank you for using the RTK Open Records Center.

Sincerely,

Allegheny County

From: Allegheny County

Subject: RTKL Request - #5941

Portal

Mr. Kiefer,

Please see the attached in response to your RTKL request.

Thank you,

Kathy Colosimo
County of Allegheny
Department of Administrative Services
Office of Open Records - Executive Branch
436 Grant Street - Room 202 Courthouse
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-350-6109

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, forwarding, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

From: Matt Kiefer

Subject: RE: Pennsylvania Right to Know Act Request #W005941-061620

Portal

Allegheny County's Office of the Medical Examiner states: "In instances of threats to the public health, such as the current pandemic, ACOME strives to be informed of all COVID-19 related deaths in order to remain fully invested in our public health. An additional important aspect of this commitment is to monitor presence of the disease among decedents in the general population."
source: https://www.alleghenycounty.us/medical-examiner/index.aspx

Please make a good-faith effort to deliver those records that best match those described in this request.

--
Matt Kiefer
John S. Knight Journalism Fellow
Stanford University
312-380-5163‬

From: Allegheny County

Subject: FW: RTKL Request - #5941

Portal

Hi Matt,

I received your inquiry regarding your RTKL Request #5941. I researched your inquiry and confirmed that our response was sent to you on June 23, 2020.

Enjoy your Day/Week!
-Kathy