Source: https://www.aidshealth.org/2018/07/ahf-lawsuit-against-florida-governor-rick-scott/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 15:52:40+00:00

Document:
1. Petitioner, PHC, is a nationally accredited managed care plan and is the current contractor for HIV/AIDS Specialty Plans for Regions 10 and 11 in Florida under the Florida’s Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program (the “SMMC”). PHC is a not-for-profit health plan providing comprehensive medical care to thousands of enrollees with HIV/AIDS in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, the epicenter of the HIV epidemic in Florida.
photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency. See Shevin v. Byron, Harless, Schaffer, Reid and Associates, Inc., 379 So. 2d 633, 640 (Fla. 1980); see also Wait v. Florida Power & Light Company, 372 So. 2d 420 (Fla. 1979); Art. I, § 24, Fla. Const.
3. The fact that the records are part of a preliminary process does not remove them from the definition of “public record.” When material falls within the statutory definition of “public record” in § 119.011(12), Fla. Stat., and has been prepared to “perpetuate, communicate or formalize knowledge, the record is subject to disclosure even if the agency believes that release of the non-final product could be detrimental. See, e.g., Gannett Corporation, Inc. v. Goldtrap, 302 So. 2d 174 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974) (county’s concern that premature disclosure of a report could be harmful to the county does not make the document confidential); cf. Grapski v. City of Alachua, 31 So. 3d 193 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010).
4. This Court has jurisdiction and venue is appropriate in Leon County because Respondent EOG maintains its offices in Leon County and by Florida Statute can be sued in Leon County.
5. This is an action for a Declaratory Judgment and for Writ of Mandamus.
6. This Court has jurisdiction over the relief requested by PHC pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.” § 119.011(12), Fla. Stat. (2013).
8. PHC has been a contracted Specialty Health Plan with the State of Florida through the Agency for Health Care Administration (“AHCA” or the “Agency”)) since 2013. AHCA’s contract with PHC and other managed care providers expires at the end of 2018.
9. On July 14, 2017, AHCA issued a solicitation seeking vendors to provide SMMC services for a new five year period starting in 2019 (AHCA ITN 011-17/18). The SMMC program is divided into eleven regions. All of the solicitations contemplated multiple contract awards including awards for comprehensive plans, long term care plans, managed medical assistance plans, and certain specialty plans including the HIV/AIDS Specialty Plan. PHC submitted a timely and complete proposal to continue serving as an HIV/AIDS Specialty Plan for Regions 10 and 11 (i.e., Miami-Dade and Broward Counties).
2 Id. at Table 28 (HIV data for metropolitan statistical area).
protesting this decision pursuant to Florida’s procurement laws and has an initial hearing on this matter before the Department of Administrative Hearings scheduled for August 7, 2018. The decision to eliminate PHC as an HIV/AIDS Specialty Plan in the epicenter of the state’s epidemic threatens to disrupt the care of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS at a time when Florida continues to pull back on other resources devoted to combatting this problem. Thus, time is of the essence for these records to be produced by EOG to PHC.
12. In order to vindicate its rights under Florida law, PHC is seeking certain public records clearly available under the Act. On July 19, 2018, PHC submitted a request for public records to EOG seeking records showing meetings and travel plans involving Governor Scott for the period July 20, 2018 through October 31, 2018.
Office of Open Government for EOG stating simply that the Governor’s office is “unable to provide these records at this time as they are exempt pursuant to 119.071(2)(d) F.S.” See attached Exhibit B. EOG failed to explain how its cited exemption was applicable, especially in light of the fact that the Governor’s schedule is a public record, has been produced previously before, and is typically emailed out to the public and press on a daily basis. Additionally, the exemption asserted by EOG is wholly inapplicable. The records requested by PHC lie at the heart of Florida’ Public Records Laws.
15. While PHC believes it is abundantly clear that the records sought are public records, PHC seeks a Writ of Mandamus, Declaratory Judgment, and an in camera review of the responsive records for an order declaring the records to be public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and to compel such records under by Writ of Mandamus.
16. PHC restates and re-alleges paragraphs 1 through 15 above. Each of these paragraphs incorporated herein contain factual allegations which are relevant to the relief being sought in this Count.
17. PHC seeks a Writ of Mandamus compelling EOG to produce the public records responsive to the public records request at issue.
A list of all campaign and fundraising events Governor Scott will attend as part of his campaign for U.S. Senate during the period July 20, 2018 through October 31, 2018.
18. EOG has a ministerial duty to permit the inspection and examination of the public records requested by the PHC. EOG has failed to permit the inspection and examination of the records responsive to the public records request at issue.
19. EOG’s refusal to produce all records responsive to the public records request at issue violates Florida Statutes, Chapter 119.07.
Thus, EOG wrongfully denied access to public records.
Florida’s public records laws codified in Florida Statutes 119.
b. EOG be ordered to show cause as to why PHC should not be granted the relief sought herein at an accelerated hearing, pursuant to Section 119.11, Florida Statutes, as to PHC request that the Court enter an Alternative Writ of Mandamus/Order to Show Cause. EOG provide at the accelerated hearing the records responsive to the request for an in camera review by the Court so that the Court may make a timely ruling on the matter as contemplated by Section 119.11, Florida Statutes.
e. PHC receives such further relief as this Court deems proper.
22. PHC restates and re-alleges paragraphs 1 through 15 above. Each of these paragraphs incorporated herein contain factual allegations which are relevant to the relief being sought in this Count.
23. PHC seeks a declaration that EOG violated Sections 119.01, .021, .07, Florida Statutes.
24. There is a bona fide, actual, present, and practical need for the declaratory judgment.
25. There is a present, ascertained set of facts, or a present controversy over those facts.
26. The privileges and rights of the parties are dependent on these facts and the law applicable to those facts.
PHC unreasonably delayed production of public records in this matter.
Records laws, entitling PHC to the records responsive to its public records request.
29. PHC requests that such responsive records be produced at an accelerated hearing pursuant to Section 119.11, Florida Statutes.
30. A declaratory judgment would not be mere legal advice.
costs pursuant to Section 119.12, Florida Statutes. DATED this 26th day of July, 2018.
PHC is willing to pay fees for this request up to a maximum of $500. If you estimate that the fees will exceed this limit, please inform me before incurring such costs.
F.S. I will contact your office within one week to discuss when I may expect fulfillment of this request and payment of any statutorily prescribed fees.
Thank you for reaching out. Regarding your request, we are unable to provide these records at this time as they are exempt pursuant to 119.071(2)(d) F.S.. If you have any questions or would like to make another request, please feel free to reach out.
Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all correspondence to me via email may be subject to disclosure. Under Florida law email addresses are public records.
Please see the attached request for public records.
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this email.

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