Laurie Ortolano, Author at Granite Grok

Musical Chairs

January 27, 2024 Laurie Ortolano

Remember how fun it was in grade school playing the game of musical chairs? You’d circle around the chairs to music and when the music stopped everyone had to grab a chair. But, they were one short. Out went the kid who didn’t get the seat. It was a frantic, fun game that honed kids’ … Read more

The Martyrs and Heroes of New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know Law

January 12, 2024 Laurie Ortolano

I have been involved with Right-to-Know litigation in the City of Nashua for four years now, and the experiences have left me with a story to tell. How does a citizen bring an RTK case to court? Realistically, you have to represent yourself and file pro se.

Nashua, Like Washington, Seems to Have an Age Problem

September 30, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

Where will their minds be in 4 more years? Nashua, very much like Washington, seems to have an age problem with leadership.

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The Judicial System’s “Policy” on Mental Health and Fitness for Duty matters within the Profession

July 7, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

I have had discussions with the Attorney Discipline Office (ADO) about Nashua’s Corporation Counsel and his fitness for duty. I tried to address this matter confidentially first with an Alderman, then the Board of Alderman, and the Mayor. The topic was too hot to touch. I then turned to the ADO.

Moving to Nashua – Think Twice

June 23, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

It has been a couple of months since I have written about Nashua and the Court system. I continue to file RTK lawsuits, and the City continues to lock records down and limit access to City Hall.

Attorney’s Steve Bolton and Celia Leonard Exercise their First Amendment Rights – What About the Rights of the Nashua Citizens?

May 9, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

The City has hired Attorney Russell Hilliard to represent a Right to Know Petition alleging record violations within Director Cumming’s Economic Development office. Mr. Cumming built a publicly financed Art Center, denying the public access to financial and construction records, and installed barriers downtown without proper noticing of public meetings. Attorney Bolton and Attorney Leonard … Read more

“No” to Settlements in Nashua RTK Cases

May 8, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

Court Settlements in Nashua are done in bad faith and are unreasonable. They are a ploy to ring up legal bills and produce no records. A settlement is not an admission of guilt, so settling results in no real improvement in the process. (In Nashua, winning in Court has resulted in no real improvement, either.)

Using Muddle to Win over the Court

May 2, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

The City of Nashua employs deliberately confusing tactics to win Right-to-Know Court cases. And they work. They scramble the records, provide incomplete responses and repeatedly request citizens clarify their written request for the records sought.

You Can’t Seek the Truth in a Courtroom When Judges Tolerate Lying.

April 28, 2023April 28, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

Since 2020, I have spent about 40 hours in the Courtroom. I can’t say that Justice has been served. The Court has shown a disturbing level of patience and acceptance for City Attorneys and employees who are willfully misrepresenting information, lacking candor, and, in some instances, boldly lying.

The Nashua Court’s Alignment with the City

April 27, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

Last August, my Attorneys filed a federal suit against the City of Nashua, naming eight City leaders, alleging numerous violations of constitutional rights. All this stemmed from trying to access public records in Nashua, which began in 2018.

The Agency Issue, Nashua’s New Twist to Withhold Public Records

April 26, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

The City of Nashua has engaged in a game of hiding records and subverting the spirit of the Right-to-Know. In 2021, self-represented, I won several Court rulings on Right-to-Know petitions. I won both cases, but the City appealed the Judge’s ruling to the Supreme Court.

My Rare Alignment with Mayor Donchess.

April 25, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

Mayor Donchess and I rarely align on issues, but one thing we agree on is justice is not served in Judge Temple’s Courtroom. The Mayor has been expounding in his many public forums about Judge Temple’s ruling in favor of some of my Right-to-Know cases.

No Good Deed goes Unpunished

April 24, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

I have painfully slogged through a number of Right-to-Know Court challenges and the process should have been much easier. Most Judges do not like citizen Right-to-Know cases as they are boring and burdensome.

Nashua Superior Court Deserves a Vote of No Confidence

April 22, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

As some of you recall, In February, I filed a formal complaint with the Administrative Office of the Court (AOC) against the clerk’s office that handles criminal complaints. Then I filed a Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) complaint against the Judge who could not handle his paperwork.

NO to Funding the Nashua Downtown Improvement Committee

February 26, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

Nashua Alderman Comeau, Gouveia, and Sullivan recently voted against an ordinance (O-22-019) to fund the Downtown Improvement Committee (DIC). The DIC, in the past, received money from downtown parking revenue.

Catch-22: Nashua’s Policy to Require Appointments They Won’t Schedule

February 4, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

The City of Nashua has installed office signs that say, “By Appointment Only.” Has the City has eliminated access to records available for immediate inspection? Yes. You have to schedule an appointment, but the City won’t provide an appointment.

Judicial Misconduct Complaint Expanded – Part III

February 3, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

The Complaint filed against Judge John Curren with the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) has now been expanded to include the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) which provides management oversight of the Court Clerks.

The Secrecy of the Nashua Mohawk Tannery EPA Superfund Project

February 2, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

The January 10, 2023 Special Presentation to the Board of Alderman by City leaders and developers on the development of this EPA Superfund property into 537 housing units left many unanswered questions. There was no public input permitted.

Judicial Misconduct – Judge John Curren – 9th District Court, Nashua – Part II

January 30, 2023January 29, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

Part I of this series ran on January 28, 2023, and can be found here. My complaint is now filed and now I wait.

My Attorney and I had about six communications with the District Court’s Clerk’s office about this order that was due out by September 30, 2022.

Judicial Misconduct – Judge John Curren

January 29, 2023January 29, 2023 Laurie Ortolano

My indoctrination, starting three years ago, to the New Hampshire Judicial System has been fraught with frustration and stress. As some of you know, I filed numerous Right-to-Know lawsuits against the City of Nashua and received some favorable rulings. It has been a long, slogging challenging process. I also have a criminal case before the … Read more