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Archiver > ORFORUM > 2007-09 > 1188842091


From: "Nathan Haines Sr." <>
Subject: Re: [GFO] Records release question
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 10:54:51 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <c235bb670d265317fca9bf0309ded8dc@mac.com>


Hi,
Thanks for the "starving Lawyer" definition. I was
not real sure what that was. I "get it" now. Thanks.
When I bumped into the lady at the State Hospital,
who as it turns out is the Head of the Records Dept
there, she asked me several questions like when did my
father die and where and do I have his death
certificate and things lke that. I told her everything
she needed to know. If I would have said that I did
not have anything of the items she asked me about I
believe she would have told me that I would have
needed to ge them before I could even think about
trying to get any records. Since I had everything she
questioned me about she THEN told me that I need to
get a Court Order to get any records released from
them. She THEN told me that she has no idea how I go
about doing that! OK? That would appear to me that
this must be some really new policy and it could be
that if I go to some lawyer or even the County Court
offices, they won't even know how to deal with this?!
We will see though.
Hopefully I can fight my way through this
"headache" and let everyone know what comes of it in
case any of you run into a similar circumstance. I am
almost afraid I asked for his records! I never dreamed
it would be such a big deal!
My Grandfather also died at the State Hospital in
1945, 4 years beforte I was born. He died of colon
cancer. All his kids are dead so does that now make me
a next of kin or would I need an order from the Pres.
of the US to get into my Grandfathers' records? Maybe
even George W. could not get an ok for me on that
one?! :-] "What is this world coming to?"!
Nathan


--- Jeanette Hopkins <> wrote:

> A starving lawyer would be one who doesn't work in a
> Portland downtown
> highrise or in Lake Oswego. A small storefront
> lawyer would have lower
> overhead and therefore lower rates. I should have
> used quote marks
> around the "starving" :)
>
> Also, if you talk with the Records Dept. at the
> hospital, ask them to
> send you a guide to the process of requesting a copy
> of records. At
> least then you can see for yourself what you need to
> do.
>
> It could be there was a miscommunication? Maybe they
> don't know your
> father has died which would make you the next of kin
> and able to gain
> access to the records. I don't think that this
> policy would have
> undergone any significant changes due to 9/11.
>
> Please let us know what you find out!
>
> Jeanette
>
>
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