Court Decisions

Louise Trauma Ctr. LLC v. DHS, No. 21-2371, 2024 WL 687948 (D.D.C. Feb. 20, 2024) (Bates, J.)

Re:  Request for “all records concerning the documentation center maintained by the Director of International Affairs”

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiff’s cross-motion for summary judgment

• Procedural Requirements, Proper FOIA Requests:  The court relates...

Jones v. DOD Def. Logistics Agency Def. Supply Ctr., No. 21-288, 2024 WL 712552 (E.D. Va. Feb. 20, 2024) (Lauck, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning plaintiff

Disposition:  Denying plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration

• Litigation Considerations, Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies:  The court finds that “[plaintiff’s] contentions flatlined in his first filing and they cannot prevail...

Insider Inc. v. GSA, No. 22-5330, 2024 WL 649240 (D.C. Cir. Feb. 16, 2024) (Childs, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning transition teams of outgoing President and Vice President

Disposition:  Affirming government’s motion for summary judgment and denial of requester’s cross-motion for summary judgment

• Exemption 6:  The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit relates that at...

Prot. the Pub.’s Trust v. IRS, No. 23-340, 2024 WL 663427 (D.D.C. Feb. 16, 2024) (Lamberth, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning meetings between IRS Commissioner and high-level executives at now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX

Disposition:  Granting plaintiff’s motion for attorney fees and costs; awarding plaintiff $17,884.42 in attorney’s fees and costs

• Attorney Fees, Eligibility: ...

US Inventor, Inc. v. U.S. Pat. & Trademark Off., No. 21-2894, 2024 WL 663367 (D.D.C. Feb. 16, 2024) (Chutkan, J.)

Re:  Requests for records concerning United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) Director’s delegations of authority to its Commissioner and to various Administrative Patent Judges

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

Geddis v. DHS, No. 23-00191, 2024 WL 663357 (D.D.C. Feb. 16, 2024) (Kollar-Kotelly, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning plaintiff

Disposition:  Converting defendant’s motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment; granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Jurisdiction:  The court holds that “[b]ecause Plaintiff has failed to create a dispute of...

Sherven v. Nat’l Reconnaissance Off., No. 22-03164, 2024 WL 620444 (D.D.C. Feb. 14, 2024) (Mehta, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning plaintiff

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiff’s cross-motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of Search:  “[T]he court is satisfied that the National Reconnaissance Office (“NRO”)’s...

Black Hills Clean Water All. v. U.S. Forest Serv., Nos. 20-5034, 21-5072, 2024 WL 626481 (D.S.D. Feb. 14, 2024) (Piersol, J.)

Re:  Requests for records concerning exploratory gold drilling

Disposition:  Granting in part and denying in part plaintiff’s consolidated motion for attorney fees and costs

• Attorney Fees, Eligibility:  “The Court must first decide whether Plaintiff has ‘substantially...

Anthony v. BOP, No. 22-01558, 2024 WL 578956 (D.D.C. Feb. 13, 2024) (McFadden, J.)

Re:  Request for copies of complaints he submitted to prison officials as well as documents about correctional officer’s alleged misconduct

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s renewed motion for summary judgment

• Exemption 6; Exemption 7(C):  The court first analyzes BOP’s Glomar response.  The court relates that...

Ams. for Prosperity Found. v. Ctrs. for Medicare & Medicaid Servs., No. 21-02021, 2024 WL 578955 (D.D.C. Feb. 13, 2024) (Nichols, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning Medicaid improper payments

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiff’s cross-motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, In Camera Inspection:  The court relates that “[t]he...