Court Decisions

Marker v. Cardona, No. 23-05873, 2023 WL 8007109 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 16, 2023) (Corley, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning plaintiff’s student loans

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff’s compliant with leave to amend

• Litigation Considerations, Pleadings:  First, the court holds that “‘[i]ndividual officials are not proper defendants in a FOIA action.’”  “So, the Court dismisses Plaintiff’s...

Kilmer v. U.S. Customs & Border Prot., No. 17-1566, 2023 WL 7695754 (D.D.C. Nov. 15, 2023) (Kollar-Kotelly, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning interactions with individuals seeking entry into United States to participate in demonstration known as the “Women’s March” in January 2017

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s renewed motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiff’s motion for in...

Sweigert v. NIH, No. 23-9542, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202291 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 7, 2023) (Swain, C.J.)

Re:  Request for certain records of NIH and NIH Acting Director

Disposition:  Transferring case to the District Court for the District of Columbia

• Litigation Considerations, Venue:  “In the interest of justice, the Court transfers this action to the United States District Court for the District of...

Contreras & Metelska, P.A., v. ICE, No. 21-1148, 2023 WL 7306139 (D. Minn. Nov. 6, 2023) (Tunheim, J.)

Re:  Request for certain emails of specific managing attorney

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

• Litigation Considerations, In Camera Inspection:  The court holds that “[b]ecause the Vaughn Index and [defendant’s]...

N.Y. Times v. DOJ, No. 22-1539, 2023 WL 7305242 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 6, 2023) (Rakoff, J.)

Re:  Requests for records concerning DOJ and FBI’s use of spyware and other digital surveillance products from Israeli technology company, including product used to surveil encrypted communications on smartphones

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for partial reconsideration of court’s grant in part and...

Guarascio v. FBI, No. 18-2791, 2023 WL 7182057 (D.D.C. Nov. 1, 2023) (Cooper, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning plaintiff’s conviction

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment in part

• Procedural Requirements, FOIA Requesters & Litigation Considerations, Mootness and Other Grounds for Dismissal:  “[T]he Court first concludes that the FBI has not shown that [plaintiff...

Wilson v. DOJ, No. 23-02140, 2023 WL 7128476 (D.D.C. Oct. 27, 2023) (Cobb, J.)

Re:  Request for investigatory records concerning plaintiff

Disposition:  Granting plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis, dismissing plaintiff’s case

• Litigation Considerations, Pleadings:  The court finds that plaintiff “alleges no facts establishing (1) that he submitted a request under either Act...

Vidal-Martinez v. DHS, Nos. 22-2445, 23-1900, 2023 WL 6985694 (7th Cir. Oct. 24, 2023) (Brennan, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning requester’s immigration proceedings

Disposition:  Affirming district court’s grant of government’s motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations:  The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit holds that “[t]he district court had an adequate factual...

Energy Pol’y Advocs. v. SEC, No. 22-01497, 2023 WL 6976071 (D.D.C. Oct. 23, 2023) (McFadden, J.)

Re:  Request for emails and messages discussing proposed disclosure requirements

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of Search & Procedural Requirements, Searching for Responsive Records:  The court holds that “[t]he Commission’s...

Buzzfeed Inc. v. DOJ, No. 19-1977, 2023 WL 6847008 (D.D.C. Oct. 17, 2023) (Sullivan, J.)

Re:  Request for communications between Los Angeles FBI field office and several DNA and genetic testing businesses

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

• Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of Search:  The court relates that “...