The FOIA Project

We have added 139 documents from 19 FOIA cases filed between February 24, 2019 and March 2, 2019. Note that there can be delays between the date a case is filed and when it shows up on PACER. If there are filings from this period that have yet to be posted on PACER, this FOIA Project list may not be complete.

Click on a case title below to view details for that case, including links to the associated docket and complaint documents.

1. DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (filed Feb 28, 2019)
   Democracy Forward Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Energy for records concerning discussions of waivers or exceptions relating to the provision of nuclear energy to Saudi Arabia. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, DFF filed suit read more…

We have added 12 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between February 24, 2019 and March 2, 2019. These are associated with 12 FOIA cases pending in federal district court. Note that because there can be delays between the date a decision is made and when it shows up on PACER, this listing includes only decisions that appeared on PACER during this period.

Click on the date to view the full text of the decision. Click on a case title below to view other details for that case, including links to the docket report and complaint.

1. CAC 2:2018cv03553 — Wayne Gall v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

   • February 27, 2019: DISMISSAL ORDER by Judge Dale S. Fischer, this action is dismissed with prejudice. Each party shall bear its own fees, costs, and expenses. (Made JS-6. Case Terminated.) (jp)

read more…

We have added 98 documents from 12 FOIA cases filed between February 17, 2019 and February 23, 2019. Note that there can be delays between the date a case is filed and when it shows up on PACER. If there are filings from this period that have yet to be posted on PACER, this FOIA Project list may not be complete.

Click on a case title below to view details for that case, including links to the associated docket and complaint documents.

1. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE et al (filed Feb 22, 2019)
   The Government Accountability Project submitted FOIA requests to the Department of State, the CIA, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Treasury, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy for records concerning attempts by the Trump administration and individuals associated with it, to promote civil nuclear energy in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia read more…

We have added 6 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between February 17, 2019 and February 23, 2019. These are associated with 6 FOIA cases pending in federal district court. Note that because there can be delays between the date a decision is made and when it shows up on PACER, this listing includes only decisions that appeared on PACER during this period.

Click on the date to view the full text of the decision. Click on a case title below to view other details for that case, including links to the docket report and complaint.

1. CT 3:2018cv00923 — Cortes v. Corrections

   • February 22, 2019: ORDER denying [26] Motion for Reconsideration and denying [27] Motion to Amend/Correct for the reasons in the attached ruling. Signed by Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on 2/22/2019. (Bryan, Kelsey)

read more…

We have added 80 documents from 12 FOIA cases filed between February 10, 2019 and February 16, 2019. Note that there can be delays between the date a case is filed and when it shows up on PACER. If there are filings from this period that have yet to be posted on PACER, this FOIA Project list may not be complete.

Click on a case title below to view details for that case, including links to the associated docket and complaint documents.

1. Buzzfeed, Inc. v. U.S. Department of the Air Force (filed Feb 12, 2019)
   BuzzFeed submitted three FOIA requests to the Department of the Air Force for records concerning tours of Air Force One that included members of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. The first FOIA request asked for names of civilians invited on the tour. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and provided 62 pages of records with redactions read more…

We have added 9 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between February 10, 2019 and February 16, 2019. These are associated with 6 FOIA cases pending in federal district court. Note that because there can be delays between the date a decision is made and when it shows up on PACER, this listing includes only decisions that appeared on PACER during this period.

Click on the date to view the full text of the decision. Click on a case title below to view other details for that case, including links to the docket report and complaint.

1. CAS 3:2017cv02227 — Morgan v. Berryhill

   • February 11, 2019: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION re Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. [21] ) and Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. [26] ). It is hereby recommended that the District Court issue an order: (1) denying plaintiff's Motion f or Summary Judgment (Doc. No. [21] ); (2) denying plaintiff's request for entry of a default judgment against defendant (Doc. No. [21] ); (3) granting defendant's Motion to Dismiss plaintiff's FOIA claim as moot and for lack of subject m atter jurisdiction; and (4) granting defendant's Motion to Dismiss Nancy Berryhill, Acting Commissioner of SSA. Within fourteen days after being served with a copy of this Report and Recommendation, any party may serve and file written objections. Signed by Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford on 2/11/2019. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service) Modified on 2/11/2019 to add service by U.S. Mail to nonregistered users (jdt).
   • February 12, 2019: ORDER Denying Plaintiff's "Notice of Defendant's Deceptive Actions and Request (for) Enforcement," Construed as a Motion to Compel Discovery and a Motion for Discovery Sanctions (Doc. No. [23] ). Signed by Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford on 2/12/2019. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service) (jdt)
   • February 12, 2019: ORDER Denying Plaintiff's "Motion to Compel Defendant's Obligations," Construed as a Motion to Compel Discovery (Doc. No. [34] ). Signed by Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford on 2/12/2019. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service) (jdt)

read more…

We have added 61 documents from 9 FOIA cases filed between February 3, 2019 and February 9, 2019. Note that there can be delays between the date a case is filed and when it shows up on PACER. If there are filings from this period that have yet to be posted on PACER, this FOIA Project list may not be complete.

Click on a case title below to view details for that case, including links to the associated docket and complaint documents.

1. Buzzfeed, Inc. v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (filed Feb 8, 2019)
   BuzzFeed News submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for a copy of its database of completed I-589 applications, known as the Refugee Asylum and Parole System database. BuzzFeed also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and denied BuzzFeed’s request for expedited processing read more…

We have added 9 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between February 3, 2019 and February 9, 2019. These are associated with 9 FOIA cases pending in federal district court. Note that because there can be delays between the date a decision is made and when it shows up on PACER, this listing includes only decisions that appeared on PACER during this period.

Click on the date to view the full text of the decision. Click on a case title below to view other details for that case, including links to the docket report and complaint.

1. CAN 3:2012cv04376 — Animal Legal Defense Fund v. United States Food & Drug Administration

   • February 7, 2019: STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STAY PENDING APPEAL DETERMINATION. Signed by Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte on February 7, 2019. (mllS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/7/2019)

read more…

We have added 87 documents from 14 FOIA cases filed between January 27, 2019 and February 2, 2019. Note that there can be delays between the date a case is filed and when it shows up on PACER. If there are filings from this period that have yet to be posted on PACER, this FOIA Project list may not be complete.

Click on a case title below to view details for that case, including links to the associated docket and complaint documents.

1. BEST v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (filed Jan 30, 2019)
   Emma Best, a freelance writer, submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning the Church Committee. She also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The FBI disclosed 123 pages that had been previously processed. Best filed an administrative appeal with the Office of Information Policy, which remanded her request to the FBI to search for further responsive records read more…

We have added 9 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between January 27, 2019 and February 2, 2019. These are associated with 9 FOIA cases pending in federal district court. Note that because there can be delays between the date a decision is made and when it shows up on PACER, this listing includes only decisions that appeared on PACER during this period.

Click on the date to view the full text of the decision. Click on a case title below to view other details for that case, including links to the docket report and complaint.

1. DC 1:2014cv00198 — SPATARO v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

   • January 29, 2019: MEMORANDUM OPINION granting Defendant's renewed motion for summary judgment [45] See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/29/2019. (lcrdm3, )

read more…