Court Decisions

Organized Cmtys. Against Deportations v. ICE, No. 21-2519, 2024 WL 3848549 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 16, 2024) (Blakey, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning “Citizens Academy” programs

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

• Exemption 6:  The court holds that “ICE properly invoked Exemption 6 to withhold and redact program...

Pomares v. VA, No. 23-55205, 2024 WL 3765300 (9th Cir. Aug. 13, 2024) (Forrest, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning alleged corruption

Disposition:  Affirming in part, reversing in part, and remanding district court’s grant of government’s motion for summary judgment

• Procedural Requirements, Searching for Responsive Records; Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of Search:  “[The Court of...

Davison v. Sidders, No. 24-00066, 2024 WL 3822843 (D. Alaska Aug. 13, 2024) (Gleason, J.)

Re:  Request for audio and video concerning local accident

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff’s complaint

• Procedural Requirements, Entities Subject to the FOIA:  The court holds that “FOIA does not provide access to records held by state or local government agencies.”  “Because Plaintiff seeks records...

Sullivan v. Town of Freeport, No. 24-00068, 2024 WL 3792359 (D. Me. Aug. 13, 2024) (Woodcock, Jr., J.)

Re:  Plaintiff’s “vague allegations” concerning the Freedom of Information Act

Disposition:  Granting defendants’ motion to dismiss

• Procedural Requirements, Entities Subject to the FOIA:  The court holds that “‘[t]he FOIA . . . by its own terms, applies only to federal executive branch...

Hum. Rts. Def. Ctr. v. DOJ, No. 20-00674, 2024 WL 3744413 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 9, 2024) (Chun. J.)

Re:  Request for records of claims against DEA that DEA resolved through payment of settlement or judgment

Disposition:  Denying defendants’ motion to alter or amend judgment or for relief from the judgment

• Litigation Considerations; Exemption 6:  The court relates that “[t]he DEA – relying on...

Andrade v. U.S. Dep’t of the Treasury, No. 24-00248, 2024 WL 3744414 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 8, 2024) (Tipton, J.)

Re:  Request for two sets of third-party summonses

Disposition:  Denying plaintiffs’ request for records

• Litigation Considerations, Standing:  The court relates that plaintiffs rely on the FOIA to “contend that they ‘have the right to copies of’ all records obtained by the IRS.”  The...

Reclaim the Records v. U.S. Dep’t of State, No. 23-1471, 2024 WL 3728979 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2024) (Furman, J.)

Re:  Request for “‘copy of the index to all birth and death records held by the State Department for the Panama Canal Zone [(“PCZ”)]’”

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

• Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of...

Connell v. CIA, No. 23-5118, 2024 WL 3659323 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 6, 2024) (Garcia, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning “CIA’s ‘operational control’ over Guantanamo Bay detainees”

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

• Exemption 1, Waiver of Exemption 1 Protection:  The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit relates that “[the...

United States v. Bennett, No. 90-305, 2024 WL 3673721 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 6, 2024) (Edwards Honeywell, J.)

Re:  Request to court for access to records concerning plaintiff’s criminal case

Disposition:  Denying criminal defendant’s motion

• Procedural Requirements, Entities Subject to the FOIA:  The court finds that “although Defendant cites the [FOIA], he fails to assert any facts alleging a...

Am. Small Bus. League v. SBA, No. 20-04619, 2024 WL 3678001 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 6, 2024) (Chesney, J.)

Re:  Requests for records concerning SBA’s administration of Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”)

Disposition:  Granting in part and denying in part plaintiff’s motion for attorney fees and costs; awarding plaintiff $203,596.40 in fees and $2,691.40 in costs

• Attorney Fees, Eligibility:  First, the...