Taylor v. Dir. OIP, No. 20-308, 2020 WL 3971997 (E.D. Mo. July 13, 2020) (Webber, J.)

Taylor v. Dir. OIP, No. 20-308, 2020 WL 3971997 (E.D. Mo. July 13, 2020) (Webber, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning plaintiff

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff's complaint

• Litigation Considerations, Pleadings:  The court holds that "[t]o the extent plaintiff intended to bring this action under the FOIA, his claim against the Director of the OIP fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted."  "The FOIA authorizes suit against federal agencies only."
   
• Procedural Requirements, Proper FOIA Request:  The court holds that "DOJ has appropriately and repeatedly advised plaintiff that he must comply with agency regulations and submit a request that would enable the agency to conduct a search and locate potentially responsive records."  "The Court cannot find that that the OIP improperly withheld records as it is clear from his complaint that his requests for documents were largely incoherent and overbroad."
   
• Litigation Considerations, Relief:  Regarding plaintiff's request for $1,000,000 in damages, the court holds that "'[a]n action for money damages against an agency or its personnel is not provided for in the [FOIA] statute.'"