FOIA Activity: 15 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 15 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between June 27, 2021 and July 3, 2021. These are associated with 15 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 4:2021cv00866 — Bioscience Advisors, Inc. v. United States Securities and Exchange Commission et al

   • June 30, 2021: ORDER by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. Granting [34] Motion for Pro Hac Vice for Jonathan A. Collier. (ndrS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/30/2021)
2. DC 1:2017cv02570 — HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE et al

   • June 28, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re Defendants' [64] Motion for Summary Judgment and Plaintiff's [65] Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 6/28/2021. (lctnm3)
3. DC 1:2018cv01860 — BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW et al v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

   • July 1, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: For the reasons explained in the attached opinion, it is hereby ORDERED that the Department's partial motion for reconsideration, to the extent it has not already been denied, is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The motion is DENIED with respect to docket numbers associated with (1) offenses that bear a self-evident connection to domestic terrorism or (2) cases that the Department has identified in a public statement or filing as connected to terrorism. Thos e docket numbers must be disclosed. The motion is GRANTED with respect to docket numbers for cases categorized as terrorism-related based on (1) an error, (2) a connection to terrorism in the investigation but not the prosecution, or (3) the Departme nt's internal designation. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and file a joint status report on or before July 15, 2021, setting forth their respective positions on (1) the Department's processing rate for the remaining docket numbers and (2) whether the Court should again enter final judgment in the case or wait to enter a final order until after the records are processed. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/1/2021. (lcrdm2)
4. DC 1:2019cv02478 — MURDER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al

   • June 30, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 6/30/21. (lcabj2)
5. NM 1:2020cv00650 — Ferrara v. Department of Homeland Security et al

   • June 28, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by District Judge Martha Vazquez ADOPTING [26] REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS; DENYING [17] MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Victoria Ferrara; and GRANTING [18] Cross Motion for Summary Judgment. See order for specifics. (gr)
6. NYS 1:2017cv06335 — Brennan Center for Justice et al v. U.S. Department of Justice et al

   • June 30, 2021: ORDER: A suggestion of settlement having been made, this case is dismissed. If the settlement is not consummated within 30 days of this order, or an authorized enlarged date, either party may apply by letter for restoration of the action within 10 d ays after the close of said period. All pending court dates are cancelled. The Clerk is directed to close the case. SO ORDERED., Motions terminated: [141] JOINT LETTER MOTION to Adjourn Conference and Status Update on Resolution of Plaintiffs&# 039; Request for Attorneys' Fees addressed to Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein from Christine S. Poscablo dated June 28, 2021 filed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Management and Budget. (Signed by Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein on 6/30/2021) (ama)
7. NYS 1:2020cv07591 — Oakes v. United States Department of Defense

   • June 28, 2021: ORDER granting [18] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference. The next status report is due by July 30, 2021. The status conference is adjourned to August 4, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Pretrial Conference set for 8/4/2021 at 10:00 AM before Judge Sidney H. Stein.. (Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 6/28/2021) (nb)
8. NYS 1:2020cv10660 — Immigrant Defense Project v. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement

   • July 2, 2021: ORDER: Following review of the parties' submissions at ECF Nos. 39, 41, [43] and 45, the Court hereby ORDERS, as follows: During the months of July and August 2021, Defendant shall review and process documents at a rate of 8 00 pages per month. Beginning with the month of September 2021, Defendant shall review and process documents at a rate of 900 pages per month. Defendant shall review and process documents according to the folder-based prioritization scheme set forth in Defendant's status update at ECF No. 45. Beginning on August 2, 2021, and on the first day of each month thereafter (or, where the first day of the month is not a business day, on the following busi ness day), Defendant shall (a) produce to Plaintiffs responsive documents processed during the prior month; and (b) file with the Court a status update setting forth (i) a count of document pages processed (A) since Defendants' prior status update and (B) in total; (ii) a count of document pages produced (A)since Defendants' prior status update and (B) in total; and (iii) a count of document pages remaining to be processed. So Ordered. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron on 7/2/2021) (js)
9. WAW 2:2018cv01635 — Withey et al v. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

   • June 28, 2021: ORDER GRANTING in part and DENYING in part Plaintiff's [122] Motion for Attorney Fees and Costs. The Court awards $21,015 in attorney fees and $400 in litigation costs in the following amounts: Fred Diamondstone – $12,195 in fees and $400 in costs. Leah Snyder – $8,820 in fees. The Clerk is DIRECTED to close this case. Signed by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour. (SR)
10. WAW 2:2020cv01231 — State of Washington v. Office of Management and Budget

    • June 29, 2021: ORDER granting Parties' [14] Stipulated Motion and Status Report. The parties are to provide this Court with a status update and/or propose a stipulated briefing schedule within 90 days. Should resolution not be possible, the parties reserve their rights to file a motion in advance of 90 days. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik. (SR)
11. WAW 2:2020cv01232 — State of Washington v. United States National Archives and Records Administration

    • June 29, 2021: STIPULATION AND ORDER granting Parties' [17] Stipulated Motion. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik.(MW)
12. WAW 2:2020cv01233 — State of Washington v. United States General Services Administration

    • June 29, 2021: ORDER granting Parties' [15] Stipulated Motion and Status Report. The parties are to provide this Court with a status update and/or propose a stipulated briefing schedule within 90 days. Should resolution not be possible, the parties reserve their rights to file a motion in advance of 90 days. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik. (SR)
13. WAW 2:2020cv01309 — Kinnucan v. National Security Agency et al

    • June 29, 2021: MINUTE ORDER. The Court GRANTS the Parties' stipulated motion. (Dkt. No. [15] ) The proposed briefing scheduled is adopted. Authorized by Judge Marsha J. Pechman. (PM)
14. WAW 2:2020cv01364 — State of Washington v. Public Buildings Reform Board

    • June 29, 2021: ORDER granting Parties' [23] Stipulated Motion and Status Report. The parties are to provide this Court with a status update and/or propose a stipulated briefing schedule within 90 days. Should resolution not be possible, the parties reserve their rights to file a motion in advance of 90 days. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik. (SR)
15. WAW 2:2021cv00073 — Blevins v. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives et al

    • July 1, 2021: ORDER REFERRING MOTION: The court DIRECTS the Clerk of the Court to forward Ms. Blevins's amended complaint (Dkt. # [10] ), the motion to appoint counsel (Dkt. # [16] ), and the pleadings and documents filed to date to the Screening Committee. The Clerk shall RENOTE Ms. Blevins's motion to appoint counsel (Dkt. # [16] ) for 7/30/2021. Signed by Judge James L. Robart. (LH) (cc: Plaintiff via US mail; ad hoc: Screening Committee)