Court Decisions

Phillips v. Johnson & Johnson, No. 23-01152, 2024 WL 1765583 (N.D. Ohio Apr. 24, 2024) (Ruiz, J.)

Re:  Request for “‘the award of [his] social security claim (SSDI)”’ and $50,000,000”

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff’s action

• Procedural Requirements, Entities Subject to the FOIA:  The court finds that “[t]he Freedom of Information Act is applicable only to federal agencies.”  “Here, the...

Juul Labs, Inc. v. FDA, No. 22-2853, 2024 WL 1733043 (D.D.C. Apr. 23, 2024) (Moss, J.)

Re:  Request for internal review documents related to FDA’s marketing denial order (“MDO”) letters with respect to requester’s premarket tobacco applications (“PMTA”) for certain e-cigarette products

Disposition:  Granting in part and denying in part defendant’s motion for summary judgment; granting in part...

Kourani v. DOJ, No. 24-0857, 2024 WL 1765693 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 22, 2024) (Taylor Swain, C. J.)

Re:  Plaintiff’s argument that “‘confidential information’” concerning himself was “‘illegally’” released

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff’s action

• Reverse FOIA:  The court relates that “‘[t]he proper avenue for enjoining an agency from disclosing documents pursuant to FOIA is a reverse FOIA action...

Campaign for Accountability v. DOJ, No. 16-1068, 2024 WL 1701640 (D.D.C. Apr. 19, 2024) (Cobb, J.)

Re:  Plaintiff seeking judgment that OLC’s formal, written opinions resolving interagency disputes are subject to FOIA’s reading-room provision

Disposition:  Denying defendant’s motion for summary judgment; granting plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment

• Proactive Disclosures:  The court...

United States v. Riese, No. 22-50136, 2024 WL 1585392 (D.S.D. Apr. 11, 2024) (Wollmann, Mag. J.)

Re:  Request for certain manuals and procedural documents, as well as for certain communications

Disposition:  Denying defendant’s motion

• Litigation Considerations, Jurisdiction:  The court relates that “[defendant] filed a pro se motion titled ‘Motion for FOIA (Freedom of Information)’ . . . .” ...

Colo. Wild Pub. Lands v. U.S. Forest Serv., No. 21-2802, 2024 WL 1555865 (D.D.C. Apr. 10, 2024) (Cooper, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning agency’s evaluation of a proposed land exchange in San Juan National Forest, including third-party appraisals of the relevant parcels

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion to dismiss; denying as moot plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment

• Litigat...

Abissi v. USCIS, No. 23-03176, 2024 WL 1485887 (D. Md. Apr. 5, 2024) (Bredar, C.J.)

Re:  Requests for assessment of one of the individual plaintiffs

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion to dismiss or transfer in part; transferring case to United States District Court for the District of Columbia

• Litigation Considerations, Venue:  The court finds that “[t]he Complaint names seven...

LatinoJustice PRLDEF v. Dep’t of the Treasury, No. 19-4417, 2024 WL 965653 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 5, 2024) (Oetken, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning candidates who were considered for appointment to Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Va...

Hughes v. Opel, No. 23-1974, 2024 WL 1443329 (D. Md. Apr. 3, 2024) (Bredar, C.J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning plaintiff

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff’s FOIA claim

• Procedural Requirements, Entities Subject to the FOIA:  The court relates that “[plaintiff] alleges that he requested information from [a local patrol officer] and that [the officer] ‘refused to comply.’”  The court...

Lantry, III v. Kendall, No. 23-473, 2024 WL 1366788 (D.D.C. Mar. 31, 2024) (Moss, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning defendant’s review board’s finding that plaintiff committed malpractice when caring for patient during medical transport in 2014

Disposition:  Granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff’s FOIA claim

• Exemption 3; Procedural Requirements, “Reasonably...