FOIA Activity: 10 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 10 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between August 1, 2021 and August 7, 2021. These are associated with 10 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 3:2020cv08718 — Center for Food Safety v. Department of the Interior

   • August 3, 2021: ORDER (AS MODIFIED) granting [22] Stipulation to extend the time for the Defendant to file an answer to Complaint to 9/3/2021 and to continue the Initial Case Management Conference. Joint Case Management Conference Statement is due by 10/13/2021. Initial Case Management Conference continued to 10/20/2021 01:30 PM in Oakland, – Videoconference Only. This proceeding will be held via a Zoom webinar. Webinar Access: All counsel, members of the public, and media may access the webinar information at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/dmr General Order 58. Persons granted access to court proceedings held by telephone or videoconference are reminded that photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings, including screenshots or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited. Zoom Guidance and Setup: https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/zoom/. Motions terminated: [22] Stipulation with proposed Order. Signed by Judge Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu on 8/3/2021. (ig, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/3/2021)
2. DC 1:2015cv00687 — JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

   • August 3, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re [79] Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge James E. Boasberg on 08/03/2021. (lcjeb2)
3. DC 1:2015cv01445 — KING v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

   • August 3, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION: For the reasons explained in the attached opinion, the Court will GRANT the Department's motion for summary judgment, Dkt. [103] A separate order will issue. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 8/3/2021. (lcrdm2)
4. DC 1:2018cv00042 — ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY PROJECT v. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

   • August 6, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION declining to adopt [25] Report and Recommendation and granting in part Plaintiffs [22] Motion for Attorneys Fees and Costs. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 8/6/21. (zgdf)
5. DC 1:2018cv00486 — PINSON v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al

   • August 5, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION denying [103] / 112 / 119 / 124 Plaintiff's motions for appointment of counsel; denying [119] Plaintiff's motion for limited discovery; and denying [124] Plaintiff's motion for an order limiting extensions of time. See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 8/5/2021. (lcrc1)
6. DC 1:2018cv00938 — KOWAL v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al

   • August 3, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part Defendants' [36] Motion for Summary Judgment and denying Plaintiff's 41 Motion for Summary Judgment. See order for details. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 8/3/21. (lctjk2)
7. DC 1:2019cv02303 — BROWN v. EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR UNITED STATE ATTORNEYS

   • August 5, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION accompanying the final order issued separately this day. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 8/5/2021.(psu1)
8. DC 1:2019cv03445 — ZYNOVIEVA v. US DEPARTMENT OF STATE

   • August 5, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: For the reasons explained in the attached opinion, it is hereby ORDERED that the Department's motion for summary judgment, Dkt. [15] , is DENIED, and that Plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment, Dkt. [16] , is also DENIED. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on or before September 3, 2021, proposing next steps in this litigation, including a briefing schedule for renewed motions for summary judgment, if appropriate. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 8/5/2021. (lcrdm2)
9. NYS 1:2020cv07591 — Oakes v. United States Department of Defense

   • August 3, 2021: ORDER granting in part [20] LETTER MOTION to Adjourn Conference currently scheduled for August 4 in light of the resolution of the merits of this action. The status report is due September 29, 2021. The conference will be held on September 29 at 9:00 a.m., unless a stipulation of dismissal is filed before that date. SO ORDERED. Pretrial Conference set for 9/29/2021 at 09:00 AM before Judge Sidney H. Stein. (Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 8/2/2021) (jca)
10. NYS 1:2021cv06242 — Carter v. U.S. Department of Justice

    • August 4, 2021: TRANSFER ORDER: The Court transfers the action to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The Court directs the Clerk of Court to terminate all motions filed in this action. Whether Plaintiff should be permitted to proceed further without payment of fees is a determination to be made by the transferee court. This order closes this case. The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 44445 (1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 8/4/21) (rdz) Transmission to Docket Assistant Clerk for processing. Transmission to Office of the Clerk of Court for processing.