SURGRET URANIA DOSS
v.
CITY OF TAMPA
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
Surgret Urania Doss petitioned for a writ of mandamus to compel the City of Tampa to produce public records without requiring prepayment of a deposit. The court denied the petition, holding that the City properly invoked Florida's statutory authority to charge a special service fee for voluminous requests requiring extensive information technology resources.
The court held that the City fulfilled its ministerial duty under Florida's public records law by providing an invoice and explaining that due to the size and complexity of the request, a deposit would be required before fulfillment.
[1] A custodian of public records may require a special service charge for requests that necessitate extensive use of information technology resources or clerical or supervis…
[2] Public records custodians have a ministerial duty to respond to requests promptly and in good faith.
Previewing 2 of 5 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Florida Statute § 119.07(1)(c) requires public records custodians to respond to requests promptly and in good faith. The custodian may require a special service charge "[i]f the nature or volume of public records, request to be inspected or copied pursuant to this subsection is such as to require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by personnel of the agency involved."”
Establishes the statutory framework allowing special service charges for voluminous requests
Previewing 1 of 2 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceOn March 15, 2023, Petitioner submitted a seven-page public records request seeking 21 categories of documents spanning 23 years, including emails. Th…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Public Records Act cases and more on FLexlaw
in his Official Capacity as Hillsborough County Property Appraiser,
Respondents. _______________________________________/
Case No.: 24-CA-003040
Division: G
ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS TO ENFORCE PUBLIC RECORDS LAW
THIS CAUSE is before the court on the Petition for Writ of Mandamus to Enforce Public Records Law, filed on April 15, 2024, by Petitioner Surgret Urania Doss, seeking to compel Respondents to produce a list of documents pursuant to Florida Statute § 119.07, which requires custodians of public records to permit inspection of those records, within certain parameters, including a special service charge for records requests that require “extensive use of information technology resources or [ ] labor cost . . . .” Fla. Stat. § 119.07(4). Having reviewed the petition, response, all appendices, and applicable law, the court determines that: 06/29/2024 09:00:36 Florida Statute § 119.07(1)(c) requires public records custodians to respond to requests promptly and in good faith. The custodian may require a special service charge “[i]f the nature or volume of public records, request to be inspected or copied pursuant to this subsection is such as to require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by personnel of the agency involved.” Fla. Stat. § 119.07(4). In this case, Petitioner submitted a seven-page long request seeking 21 categories of documents, including emails, spanning a 23-year period. The City responded to Petitioner’s request with an invoice, informing Petitioner that his request would be fulfilled upon prepayment of a deposit, as permitted by statute. Given the sheer volume of Petitioner’s request, the Court finds that the City fulfilled its ministerial duty by providing Petitioner with an invoice and explaining that due to the size and complexity of the request, a deposit would be required. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Mandamus to Enforce Public Records Law is hereby DENIED. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers in Tampa, Florida on the date imprinted with the Judge’s signature.
___________________________________ HONORABLE CHRISTOPHER C. NASH Circuit Court Judge
24-CA-003040 6/29/2024 9:00:35 Page 3