Date:
                Tue, 1 Sep 1998 18:46:47 EDT
             To:
                bjennings@cghospital.org
I am resending the attached e-mail to insure that it is received.  Please
respond to this request as soon as is practical.

Thank you,
C.D. Norman
 

                   From:
                        Cnorm@aol.com
 
                     To:
                        bjennings@cghospital.org
                    CC:
                        putnampit@reporters.net
 
I would like to receive a complete copy of the Arent Fox audit report.  Please
advise me of the reproduction and shipping costs.  I assume that the
reproduction costs will be identical to those charged to the Herald-Citizen
for their copy of the report.

I would also like to receive a copy of any document that records the amount
paid by the Herald-Citizen to cover reproduction costs.
 

                   Date:
                        Wed, 2 Sep 1998 22:01:16 EDT
                     To:
                        mayor@ci.cookeville.tn.us
                    CC:
                        putnampit@reporters.net
 

I would like to receive a complete copy of the Arent Fox audit report for the
Cookeville Regional Medical Center.  Please advise me of the reproduction and
shipping costs.  I assume that the reproduction costs will be identical to
those charged to the Herald-Citizen for their copy of the report.

This request is being made by a member of the press under the Tennessee Open
Records Act.

C.D. Norman (representing The Putnam Pit, a Tennessee corporation)
2320 Mule Shoe Dr.
Conroe, TX 77384
This request is being made by a member of the press under the Tennessee Open
Records Act.

C.D. Norman (representing The Putnam Pit)
2320 Mule Shoe Dr.
Conroe, TX 77384

Thank you for your prompt reply.  I have e-mailed Mr. Jennings twice without
result.

It was my understanding that the mayor automatically became a member of the
board of trustees.  I know that Mrs. Davis was a member of the board and was
provided with a copy of the report.  If that is true, then the report should
now be in the possession of Dr. Womack.

Since the report came to Dr. Womack in the normal course of business, and came
to him specifically because he is the mayor, then under the city charter he is
required to provide copies to the press (upon payment of the appropriate fee).

Please verify my assumptions and, if true, forward the report to me as soon as
is practical.

Thank you,
C.D. Norman (The Putnam Pit)

Following up on my previous e-mail:

Information posted on the City of Cookeville web site
http://www.ci.cookeville.tn.us/information/boards/hospital.htm
indicates that the mayor is a member of the hospital board.

Thank you
C.D. Norman

Please refer this request to the attention of the city attorney,
Cookeville, Tennessee:

Mr. Mike O'Mara, esq.
O'Mara and Johnson, PLLC
317 West Spring Street
Cookeville, TN    38501

Subj:  RE: hospital audit
Date: 98-09-08 09:55:24 EDT
From: gfowler@ci.cookeville.tn.us (Gail Fowler)
To: Putnampit@aol.com ('Putnampit@aol.com')
CC: Cnorm@aol.com ('Cnorm@aol.com')

Mr. Davidian:

I spoke with Bill Jennings, Hospital Administrator this morning and the
report is available and ready to be picked up or mailed.  Please contact
Mr. Jennings directly at 931-520-2602 to let him know how you would like
to receive it.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Putnampit@aol.com [SMTP:Putnampit@aol.com]
> Sent: Friday, September 04, 1998 2:01 PM
> To: gfowler@ci.cookeville.tn.us
> Cc: Cnorm@aol.com
> Subject: hospital audit
>
> Mrs. Fowler:
> Mr. Norman requested the audit report from the mayor. If the current
> mayor
> does not have a copy, I request a copy of the report provided to Mayor
> Davis
> in her official capacity, pursuant to the state and local open records
> provisions..
>
> We will have Federal Express pick the audit report up if it is ready
> today.
> Otherwise, and this is not a threat, Mrs. Fowler, but a statement of
> intent on
> our part, we will take this issue to another forum. By 'another
> forum,' I mean
> we will file a lawsuit to force release of the report.
>
> Have a nice day.
>
>
>
> Geoff Davidian, editor and publisher
> The Putnam Pit

Clearly this is going nowhere, Ms. Fowler. Mr. Jennings says contact the city attorney. The city attorney refused to provide it when he was asked by Mr. Edwards.

I am sorry it has not been easier to deal with the city but we take civil rights violations very seriously.

I believe that since we began seeking this report more than a month ago, your boiler plate "he wants us to drop everything" argument will not work this time.
 
 

Have a nice day.

Geoff Davidian