Dear Dawg: We got a request pursuant to the Public Information Act asking us to produce every document “that contains a date from January 1, 2000 to the present.” HELLO! We sent a curt reply: “We got your request. HELLO?! You are kidding, right? If not, then you are OVERLY BROAD! Next time, be reasonable. We don’t have the time or resources to deal with requests for such voluptuous records.” Does that sound OK? HELLO!

DEAR HELLO! We are pretty sure that you meant “voluminous” rather than “voluptuous.” But we agree with you that this request is ridiculously broad. The PIA allows the school to “discuss with the requestor how the scope of a request might be narrowed.” So it would be permissible for you to initiate that discussion so long as you do not inquire “into the purpose for which information will be used.” See Government Code 552.222.

DAWG BONE: LET YOUR LAWYER HELP YOU WITH THIS ONE!