VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT – LAWSUITS - Lawsuits and litigation filed against the District 2020 - 2025

Dear Muckrock:
Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on 1/13/2025 and given the reference number R000708-011325 for tracking purposes. If your request was received when the District office is closed, the review of your request will begin on the next business day.
Requested Documents: Vancouver Public Schools District
Washington Public Records Act Office
PO Box 8937
Vancouver, WA 98668-8937

January 12, 2025

January 12, 2025

VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT – LAWSUITS - Lawsuits and litigation filed against the District 2020 - 2025

via email to Jen.Anderson@vansd.org

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act [RCW 42.56] I hereby request the following records:

1. I request complete copies of all records and writings regarding all lawsuits filed in any jurisdiction against Lake Washington School District in the years 2020 - 2025. Please provide copies of the lawsuits and exhibits themselves as well as any records and writings referencing the lawsuits including internal communications, responses, answers, settlements, agreements, dismissals, service of process, summons, docket, docket entries, insurance submissions, etc.

RECORDS INSTALLMENTS - ORDER OF PRODUCTION

If production of responsive records will be completed in multiple installments, please begin by producing records in REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT BY DATE. The most recent public records should be produced first and the oldest records produced last by date.

DEFINITION OF RECORDS AND WRITINGS

RECORDS AND WRITINGS as defined by RCW 42.56.010(4): any handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated.

PRODUCTION PROCESSING AND DELIVERY OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS

Please provide all records in their native electronic format. Please do not instead create new records by printing electronic files then scanning and printing the newly scanned prints.

Washington State Law is clear that the use of 3rd party “portals” (Such as GOVQA) for a public records request is optional for the requestor. Respectfully I decline. Please provide all records electronically via direct email attachment to this email address.

Please do not register this requestor for, nor direct this requestor to the use of any 3rd party commercial portal including but not limited to FOIAOnline, GovQA, NextRequest, FOIAExpress, JustFOIA FOIADirect, WebForm, or any other online service other than a direct NO PASSWORD REQUIRED, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED, internet cloud-based download link, or electronic email.

Do not send any portion of this public records request to any 3rd party for-profit corporation such as GOVQA, a Grannicus Corporation, NEXT-REQUEST, or JUST FOIA.

Do not register this request with any for profit portal or 3rd party organization such as GOVQA, a Grannicus Corporation, NEXT-REQUEST, or JUST FOIA.

Constructive Notice: Any and all communication(s) received on behalf of your agency in reference to this Public Records Request (RCW 42.45) from any unauthorized for-profit 3rd party company doing business outside the State of Washington will be the subject of a new public records request to your agency as to the origin and purpose of the communication as well as the identity of the sender of the communication.

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL

RCW 42.56.080 - Identifiable records—Facilities for copying—Availability of public records.

"...Agencies shall honor requests received in person during an agency's normal office hours, or by mail or email, for identifiable public records unless exempted by provisions of this chapter. No official format is required for making a records request; however, agencies may recommend that requestors submit requests using an agency provided form or web page."

This public records request is being made via email. This public records request will be honored and fulfilled by your agency via email as requested or relief will be sought per statute.

NATIVE ELECTRONIC FORMAT

Please provide all identified public records in their NATIVE electronic format, either .pst file or .pdf PORTFOLIO file. Please provide all electronic records in the fewest number of individual files as per native format or use free .zip compression in each installment.

FEES

In the event that there are fees, please inform us of the total charges in advance of fulfilling the request in strict compliance with all provisions of the Washington State Public Records Act. Please provide a single fee request for all responsive records.

EXEMPTION LOGS

Please ensure all redactions or exemptions claimed by your agency in the production of responsive records are accompanied by a complete and detailed contemporaneous exemption log noting the valid legal reason for each exemption at each redaction location in the record produced, as well as the specific number of pages if any that your agency redacts or withholds in their entirety. Each redaction should be noted by footnote or by a clear reference to the specific justification for that redaction, and only the minimal exempt portion of any record may be withheld.

COMMERCIAL PURPOSE DECLARATION

The Washington State Public Records Act prohibits the disclosure of “lists of individuals” for a commercial purpose (RCW 42.56.070(8)). I declare this public records request is not being made for any commercial purpose whatsoever. Also, this public records request is not being made for a "list of individuals." This declaration satisfies all requirements of RCW 42.56 regarding prohibitions on lists and commercial purposes. No additional commercial purpose declaration will be completed for this public records request.

PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS *** ANTICIPATE LITIGATION ***

WAC 44-14-03005 RETENTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS

The lawful destruction of public records is governed by retention schedules. The unlawful destruction of public records can be a crime. RCW 40.16.010 and 40.16.020. An agency is prohibited from destroying a public record, even if it is about to be lawfully destroyed under a retention schedule, if a public records request has been made for that record. RCW 42.56.100. Additional retention requirements might apply if the records may be relevant to actual or anticipated litigation. The agency is required to retain the record until the record request has been resolved.

Note: An agency can be found to violate the Public Records Act and be subject to the attorneys' fees and penalty provision if it prematurely destroys a requested record after a request is made. See Yacobellis v. City of Bellingham, 55 Wn. App. 706, 780 P.2d 272 (1989). However, it is not a violation of the Public Records Act if a record is destroyed prior to an agency's receipt of a public records request for that record. Bldg. Indus. Ass'n of Wash. v. McCarthy, 152 Wn. App. 720, 218 P.3d 196 (2009); West v. Dep't of Nat. Res., 163 Wn. App. 238, 258 P.3d 78 (2011). The Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW) and the records retention statutes (chapter 40.14 RCW) are two different laws.

COMMUNICATION VIA EMAIL

Please send all requests for clarification, status updates, and production of responsive electronic documents via direct email reply.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public.

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.

Good Luck.

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/

If prompted for a passcode, please enter:
••••••••

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 179645
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
You will receive a notice within five (5) business days providing you an estimate of when you will receive your requested documents.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed.

Vancouver Public Schools

To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the Public Records Portal (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.VEsWrlMiJDg0mXafq1mEXcu0GubmVik0NZ6DmrWDkQf03h5xW4TxOyon03hdN-2FwdV-2FR45ttdt-2F-2FekxbGfoIb1B2npTNYgQug8c-2BtabmgSfo-3Dsmt__Mr8V18etIeKhhG-2Fjb9aBW7jdPBrNz-2Bsyjg5Cxqpi7jS0KtnNo1vOCSCCPrLq8zRAtLJMJXORnWwC5VGPC7C-2Bu7PEvE7grkDB6o8tnck2QPWOCx4lj6jzEWMbvvm3ybzmeXNzjuaDIFqJ3MJPXDoXw8IhGHGVp4NM4xFiOMgqMRuDU-2Bw-2B8Rh22XUO2B02oJVaj3Kd5BEGyfaeHHJ-2FFOp5TAGgo5-2FEH2z9kzwnDiaH0gg-3D)

Dear Muckrock ,

Thank you for registering with the VPS Public Records Portal.

Your Login ID is:  requests@muckrock.com

If you did not submit your request through the public portal but are receiving this e-mail, an account has been created for you where you can track and monitor the status of your request, and receive any documents in response to your request.


If you have never used this system or cannot remember your password you may request a temporary password here: Request Temporary Password (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.VEsWrlMiJDg0mXafq1mEXcu0GubmVik0NZ6DmrWDkQf03h5xW4TxOyon03hdN-2FwdP0h5lw0zgP5Y13BzU28VDN1dH0fe-2B8EJ1LaIILKd2kw-3DLkgt_Mr8V18etIeKhhG-2Fjb9aBW7jdPBrNz-2Bsyjg5Cxqpi7jS0KtnNo1vOCSCCPrLq8zRA4dqkTzjVM3AZRAzyPQTAEHIFcldYh9-2B1ZMjSox4xsCMEv-2F4mTYBIrKM22ncyZXL-2BMHZ94O-2FBYnn6K7wDhWpYXTPxf2gxHZE-2BA-2FwbHCInOEOGzlPnlCVgsvcumu1adb8Pv8p2djedFYdNDMzyZZMHVZzSG57kj-2Bny3bs6UThPFMc-3D)

Please login to My Records Center to update your account information, track the status of your request and receive requested records when they become available. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.VEsWrlMiJDg0mXafq1mEXcu0GubmVik0NZ6DmrWDkQf03h5xW4TxOyon03hdN-2FwdaYf4qC4QonBXtk6L6dF-2BTzHHwScJb1VWT-2FeDbP4IBX0-3DhNn7_Mr8V18etIeKhhG-2Fjb9aBW7jdPBrNz-2Bsyjg5Cxqpi7jS0KtnNo1vOCSCCPrLq8zRA4dqkTzjVM3AZRAzyPQTAEFuJzviUc5aWwW0vPy9-2BaCMjOAccgh0jF-2FPb6-2BH-2F2AfMWehE-2Br54jt7dVspUxuEb5sYFCcEJKy-2FLuZLmTCGmuHBcfEdLOkS-2F4-2B-2BNenZAa6F4sh3tcKZzd3hOLuoJy44tf-2BvAZs8vtNg-2BszKfgIdnd4E-3D)
This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.

Please see the attached correspondence in response to your public records
request to Vancouver School District. Additionally, any further
communication with this requester, concerning these requests will be
submitted via the District’s public records system, GovQA. This is the
system the District uses to track, respond and produce electronic
responsive documents. The District understands that this requester is
electing not to use GovQA. This is the option of the requester. The
District utilizes, maintains and will make records electronically via GovQA.

Regards,

Jen Anderson | Vancouver Public Schools
Paralegal to Taylor Richman, General Counsel
PO Box 8937 ‐ 2901 Falk Road | Vancouver, WA 98668‐8937
Telephone: 360‐313‐1280
jen.anderson@vansd.org
‐‐CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE‐‐
THIS MESSAGE AND/OR THE DOCUMENT(S) ACCOMPANYING THIS ELECTRONIC
TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION INTENDED
ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY NAMED ABOVE. IF YOU ARE NOT
THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, BE AWARE THAT ANY DISCLOSURE, COPYING, DISTRIBUTION
OR USE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS TRANSMISSION IS PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE
RECEIVED THIS COMMUNICATION IN ERROR, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SENDER BY
TELEPHONE, MAIL OR ELECTRONIC MAIL, AND DELETE THE MATERIAL FROM ANY
COMPUTER.

--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: Public Records Request of January 13, 2025, Reference # R000708-011325 Dear Muckrock, The Vancouver Public Schools received a public records request from you on January 13, 2025. Your request mentioned: Vancouver Public Schools District
Washington Public Records Act Office
PO Box 8937
Vancouver, WA 98668-8937

January 12, 2025

January 12, 2025

VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT – LAWSUITS - Lawsuits and litigation filed against the District 2020 - 2025

via email to Jen.Anderson@vansd.org

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act [RCW 42.56] I hereby request the following records:

1. I request complete copies of all records and writings regarding all lawsuits filed in any jurisdiction against Lake Washington School District in the years 2020 - 2025. Please provide copies of the lawsuits and exhibits themselves as well as any records and writings referencing the lawsuits including internal communications, responses, answers, settlements, agreements, dismissals, service of process, summons, docket, docket entries, insurance submissions, etc.

RECORDS INSTALLMENTS - ORDER OF PRODUCTION

If production of responsive records will be completed in multiple installments, please begin by producing records in REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT BY DATE. The most recent public records should be produced first and the oldest records produced last by date.

DEFINITION OF RECORDS AND WRITINGS

RECORDS AND WRITINGS as defined by RCW 42.56.010(4): any handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated.

PRODUCTION PROCESSING AND DELIVERY OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS

Please provide all records in their native electronic format. Please do not instead create new records by printing electronic files then scanning and printing the newly scanned prints.

Washington State Law is clear that the use of 3rd party “portals” (Such as GOVQA) for a public records request is optional for the requestor. Respectfully I decline. Please provide all records electronically via direct email attachment to this email address.

Please do not register this requestor for, nor direct this requestor to the use of any 3rd party commercial portal including but not limited to FOIAOnline, GovQA, NextRequest, FOIAExpress, JustFOIA FOIADirect, WebForm, or any other online service other than a direct NO PASSWORD REQUIRED, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED, internet cloud-based download link, or electronic email.

Do not send any portion of this public records request to any 3rd party for-profit corporation such as GOVQA, a Grannicus Corporation, NEXT-REQUEST, or JUST FOIA.

Do not register this request with any for profit portal or 3rd party organization such as GOVQA, a Grannicus Corporation, NEXT-REQUEST, or JUST FOIA.

Constructive Notice: Any and all communication(s) received on behalf of your agency in reference to this Public Records Request (RCW 42.45) from any unauthorized for-profit 3rd party company doing business outside the State of Washington will be the subject of a new public records request to your agency as to the origin and purpose of the communication as well as the identity of the sender of the communication.

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL

RCW 42.56.080 - Identifiable records—Facilities for copying—Availability of public records.

"...Agencies shall honor requests received in person during an agency's normal office hours, or by mail or email, for identifiable public records unless exempted by provisions of this chapter. No official format is required for making a records request; however, agencies may recommend that requestors submit requests using an agency provided form or web page."

This public records request is being made via email. This public records request will be honored and fulfilled by your agency via email as requested or relief will be sought per statute.

NATIVE ELECTRONIC FORMAT

Please provide all identified public records in their NATIVE electronic format, either .pst file or .pdf PORTFOLIO file. Please provide all electronic records in the fewest number of individual files as per native format or use free .zip compression in each installment.

FEES

In the event that there are fees, please inform us of the total charges in advance of fulfilling the request in strict compliance with all provisions of the Washington State Public Records Act. Please provide a single fee request for all responsive records.

EXEMPTION LOGS

Please ensure all redactions or exemptions claimed by your agency in the production of responsive records are accompanied by a complete and detailed contemporaneous exemption log noting the valid legal reason for each exemption at each redaction location in the record produced, as well as the specific number of pages if any that your agency redacts or withholds in their entirety. Each redaction should be noted by footnote or by a clear reference to the specific justification for that redaction, and only the minimal exempt portion of any record may be withheld.

COMMERCIAL PURPOSE DECLARATION

The Washington State Public Records Act prohibits the disclosure of “lists of individuals” for a commercial purpose (RCW 42.56.070(8)). I declare this public records request is not being made for any commercial purpose whatsoever. Also, this public records request is not being made for a "list of individuals." This declaration satisfies all requirements of RCW 42.56 regarding prohibitions on lists and commercial purposes. No additional commercial purpose declaration will be completed for this public records request.

PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS *** ANTICIPATE LITIGATION ***

WAC 44-14-03005 RETENTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS

The lawful destruction of public records is governed by retention schedules. The unlawful destruction of public records can be a crime. RCW 40.16.010 and 40.16.020. An agency is prohibited from destroying a public record, even if it is about to be lawfully destroyed under a retention schedule, if a public records request has been made for that record. RCW 42.56.100. Additional retention requirements might apply if the records may be relevant to actual or anticipated litigation. The agency is required to retain the record until the record request has been resolved.

Note: An agency can be found to violate the Public Records Act and be subject to the attorneys' fees and penalty provision if it prematurely destroys a requested record after a request is made. See Yacobellis v. City of Bellingham, 55 Wn. App. 706, 780 P.2d 272 (1989). However, it is not a violation of the Public Records Act if a record is destroyed prior to an agency's receipt of a public records request for that record. Bldg. Indus. Ass'n of Wash. v. McCarthy, 152 Wn. App. 720, 218 P.3d 196 (2009); West v. Dep't of Nat. Res., 163 Wn. App. 238, 258 P.3d 78 (2011). The Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW) and the records retention statutes (chapter 40.14 RCW) are two different laws.

COMMUNICATION VIA EMAIL

Please send all requests for clarification, status updates, and production of responsive electronic documents via direct email reply.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public.

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.

Good Luck.

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/

If prompted for a passcode, please enter:
••••••••

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 179645
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable. The Vancouver Public Schools has reviewed its files and has determined there are no responsive record(s) to your request. The District desires to provide you with the fullest assistance possible.  If you believe this response does not fully comply with your public records request, please reply to this email to ask any follow up questions within five (5) business days. Please be advised that Public Records Act one (1) year statute of limitations to seek judicial review has started to run because the District does not intend to further address this request. Sincerely, Jen Anderson
Paralegal
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the Public Records Portal (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.VEsWrlMiJDg0mXafq1mEXcu0GubmVik0NZ6DmrWDkQf03h5xW4TxOyon03hdN-2FwdUsFaHHsDWu8e-2Fu66NCNRU0FZCexFpRxIt3lZSFirtDxBAQeqXAvZC2IjyPVAf226Wro__Mr8V18etIeKhhG-2Fjb9aBW7jdPBrNz-2Bsyjg5Cxqpi7jS0KtnNo1vOCSCCPrLq8zRAHSdPnb1nh-2FcyJUT68mMyCGvo03qMplCfzv4MQugnp5V8VKc4eC6g7-2FXQLUtI5pYPpaNal-2BeZzQ-2BSn1j-2BlDioBgnmSRwDJukMVWD-2Bz30sOR8djvXbCB6B-2BxZLutAV5T5bUDTdguAp-2FTQpY14KcGkl6WyMoDrFhfls9G-2F00H8TYJ51-2Bc43DNJH6c1PLzmDsp0xNSQD0CXhM4F6q9lMbu2-2BTPWV4rMGJmEEn678HWDk7hGt-2F3eK3cN3v0ugDK9RIswIV52YBAn9wEgBGCp2n8egYPCsXm5gn-2B5zqA-2FhYv0vQhREYilm2YaEnJ12xzojN0GX)

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Please be advised that if you wish to submit a public records request, update an existing request, or check the status of an already submitted request, you should visit the Public Records Center.
Thank you
This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY