Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2017cv01283
Date Filed2017-06-29
Date Closed2020-11-30
JudgeJudge Emmet G. Sullivan
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for records concerning communications between NOAA scientist Thomas Karl and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Opinion/Order [21]
FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Emmet Sullivan has become the second district court judge in the D.C. Circuit to reject an agency's Exemption 5 (privileges) claims because the agency had not shown that it considered whether or not disclosure would cause foreseeable harm under the standard added by the 2016 amendments. In a case brought by Judicial Watch against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for communications between Thomas Karl, a NOAA scientist, and John Holden, who served as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy during the Obama administration, the agency disclosed 900 pages of emails, a large portion of which were partially redacted under Exemption 5. By the time Sullivan ruled, Judicial Watch was contesting only 48 pages. Judicial Watch argued that NOAA had failed to show the existence of any foreseeable harm from disclosing the disputed pages. Sullivan pointed out that Judge Amit Mehta was the only other D.C. Circuit district court judge to consider the foreseeable harm standard in Rosenberg v. Dept of Defense, 342 F. Supp. 3d 62 (D.D.C. 2018). Sullivan observed that in Rosenberg Mehta had found that the agency "had failed to explain how the disclosures of information withheld under Exemption 5 would harm the agency's deliberative process. The court noted that the foreseeable harm requirement does not go 'so far as to require the government to identify harm likely to result from disclosure of each of its Exemption 5 withholdings' but the government at least needed to do more than 'perfunctorily state that disclosure of all the withheld information �" regardless of category or substance �" would jeopardize the free exchange of information.'" Finding Rosenberg persuasive, Sullivan noted that "the text and purpose of the Act both support a heightened standard for an agency's withholdings under Exemption 5. The text of the Act states an agency may only withhold information if 'the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by [a FOIA] exemption.' In other words, even if an exemption applies, an agency must release the document unless doing so would reasonably harm an exemption-protected interest. The purpose of the [2016 amendments were] to establish a 'presumption of openness,' and its passing was based on the recognition that 'from the beginning, agencies have taken advantage of these exemptions to withhold any information that might technically fit.' To that end, Congress sought to require an agency to 'first determine whether [it] could reasonably foresee an actual harm' before the agency claims an exemption. Furthermore, an 'inquiry into whether an agency has reasonably foreseen a specific, identifiable har that would be caused by a disclosure would require the ability to articulate both the nature of the harm and the link between the specified harm and specific information contained in the material withheld.'" NOAA had submitted two affidavits supporting its use of Exemption 5 by telling Sullivan that disclosure would chill candid discussions. Sullivan noted that "these general explanations of the possibility of a 'chilling effect' fall short of articulating 'a link between the specified harm and specific information contained in the material withheld.'" He observed that "if the mere possibility that disclosure discourages a frank and open dialogue was enough for the exemption to apply, then Exemption 5 would apply whenever the deliberative process privilege was invoked regardless of whether disclosure of the information would harm an interest protected by the exemption." Sullivan explained that "however, in enacting the legislation, Congress intended that the technical application of an exemption was not sufficient without a showing that disclosure also harmed an interest the exemption sought to protect in the first place." He observed that "the question is not whether disclosure could chill speech, but rather if it is reasonably foreseeable that it will chill speech and, if so, what is the link between this harm and the specific information contained in the material withheld." Sullivan told the agency it could provide supplemental affidavits to attempt to satisfy the foreseeable harm standard.
Issues: Exemption 5 - Privileges
Opinion/Order [33]
FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Emmet Sullivan has ruled that the Department of Commerce has provided sufficient justification for the foreseeable harm standard under Exemption 5 (privileges) in response to a FOIA request from Judicial Watch for communications between Thomas Karl, a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, from January 2009 and January 2017. In response to Judicial Watch's request, NOAA found 900 pages of responsive documents. By the time Sullivan ruled, the only issues remaining in dispute were redactions made in 48 documents. In justifying its foreseeable harm claims under the deliberative process privilege, NOAA argued that scientists were fearful of having their personal scientific opinions taken out of context. Sullivan found this explanation sufficient. He noted that "the explanation does not repeat the justifications for withholding the information provided in the [agency's Vaughn index], but rather describes the specific harms to the deliberative process that would result from the disclosure of the information. Commerce has taken a categorical approach, but the harms Commerce has articulated are far from 'generic and nebulous.'' Furthermore, these harms are connected in a meaningful way to the information being withheld because of the predecisional and deliberative nature of the information." Judicial Watch argued that the agency had not met the foreseeable harm standard. But Sullivan pointed out that "Commerce has met its burden of articulating the foreseeable harm disclosure of the information would have on the ability of agency scientists to 'engage in meaningful scientific debate and collaboration' to arrive at 'quality agency decisions.' This is entirely distinguishable from withholding information that could embarrass an agency or paint it in a negative light."
Issues: Exemption 5 - Privileges - Deliberative process privilege - Predecisional, Exemption 5 - Privileges - Deliberative process privilege - Deliberative
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2017-06-291COMPLAINT against JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5012633) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USOA, # 3 Summons USAG, # 4 Summons DoC)(Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 06/29/2017)
2017-06-292LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 06/29/2017)
2017-06-29Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (jd) (Entered: 06/29/2017)
2017-06-293SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Consent Forms)(jd) (Entered: 06/29/2017)
2017-07-144RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/10/2017. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/9/2017.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 7/13/2017., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE served on 7/10/2017 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 07/14/2017)
2017-07-195STANDING ORDER: The parties are directed to read the attached Standing Order Governing Civil Cases Before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in its entirety upon receipt. The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives in the attached Standing Order.Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 7/19/2017.(Attachments: # 1 Exhibit) (lcegs1) (Entered: 07/19/2017)
2017-08-096NOTICE of Appearance by Marsha Wellknown Yee on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/09/2017)
2017-08-097NOTICE Regarding Correct Date of Service by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/09/2017)
2017-08-148Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/14/2017)
2017-08-319ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/31/2017)
2017-09-06MINUTE ORDER granting 8 defendant's consent motion for extension of time to file a response to plaintiff's complaint. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 9/6/2017. (lcegs3) (Entered: 09/06/2017)
2017-09-11MINUTE ORDER. Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552. The parties are directed to meet and confer and propose a joint scheduling order for further proceedings in this case by no later than October 12, 2017. The parties' joint proposed scheduling order shall address the following: (1) The status of plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) The anticipated number of documents responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) The anticipated date(s) for release of documents responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request; (4) Whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case; (5) Whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case; (6) Whether this case would benefit from referral to a magistrate judge or the District Court Mediation Program for purposes of settlement; and (7) A proposed briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if applicable. If the parties are unable to agree on a joint recommendation, the joint proposed scheduling order shall include each party's individual recommendations. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 9/11/2017. (lcegs3) (Entered: 09/11/2017)
2017-09-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Scheduling Order due by 10/12/2017. (mac) (Entered: 09/12/2017)
2017-10-1210PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 10/12/2017)
2017-10-16MINUTE ORDER in view of 10 parties' joint proposed schedule, it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report by January 30, 2018 that shall either propose a filing schedule for dispositive motions or request additional time for the parties to try to resolve any issues without the Court's involvement. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 10/16/2017. (lcegs3) (Entered: 10/16/2017)
2017-10-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/30/2018. (mac) (Entered: 10/16/2017)
2018-01-3011Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 01/30/2018)
2018-01-30MINUTE ORDER in view of 11 parties' joint status report, it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report by March 6, 2018 that shall either propose a filing schedule for dispositive motions or request additional time for the parties to try to resolve any issues without the Court's involvement. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 1/30/2018. (lcegs3) (Entered: 01/30/2018)
2018-01-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/6/2018. (mac) (Entered: 01/31/2018)
2018-03-0612Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 03/06/2018)
2018-03-2713MOTION for Briefing Schedule by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 03/27/2018)
2018-03-30MINUTE ORDER granting 13 plaintiff's unopposed motion for a briefing schedule. Parties shall therefore adhere to the following briefing schedule: defendant's motion for summary judgment shall be filed by May 23, 2018; plaintiff's opposition and any cross-motion for summary judgment shall be filed by June 25, 2018; defendants opposition and reply shall be filed by July 26, 2018; and Plaintiffs reply shall be filed by August 16, 2018. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 3/30/2018. (lcegs3) (Entered: 03/30/2018)
2018-03-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Motion For Summary Judgment due by 5/23/2018. Plaintiff's Opposition And Any Cross-Motion For Summary Judgment due by 6/25/2018. Defendants Opposition And Reply due by 7/26/2018. Plaintiffs Reply due by 8/16/2018. (mac) (Entered: 03/30/2018)
2018-05-2314MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Declaration Mark H. Graff, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 05/23/2018)
2018-06-2015Memorandum in opposition to re 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts)(Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 06/20/2018)
2018-06-2016Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 06/20/2018)
2018-07-2617REPLY to opposition to motion re 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Attachments: # 1 Def.'s Resps. to Pl.'s SMF, # 2 Second Decl. of Mark H. Graff, # 3 Exhibit 3 (Revised Vaughn Index), # 4 Exhibit 4)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/26/2018)
2018-07-2618Memorandum in opposition to re 16 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Attachments: # 1 Def.'s Resps. to Pl.'s SMF, # 2 Second Decl. of Mark H. Graff, # 3 Exhibit 3 (Revised Vaughn Index), # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/26/2018)
2018-08-0919REPLY to opposition to motion re 16 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 08/09/2018)
2019-03-2220ORDER DENYING 14 Commerce's motion for summary judgment and GRANTING in PART, DENYING in PART, and HOLDING IN ABEYANCE 16 Judicial Watch's motion for summary judgment. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 3/22/2019. (lcegs2) (Entered: 03/22/2019)
2019-03-2221MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 3/22/2019. (lcegs2) (Entered: 03/22/2019)
2019-03-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Schedule due by 4/12/2019. (mac) (Entered: 03/25/2019)
2019-04-1022PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE (JOINT) by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 04/10/2019)
2019-04-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of 22 the parties' joint proposed briefing schedule the following schedule shall govern these proceedings: Defendant shall file its renewed motion for summary judgment by no later than May 15, 2019. Plaintiff shall file its opposition and renewed cross-motion for summary judgment by no later than June 14, 2019. Defendant shall file its reply, and opposition to plaintiff's motion by no later than July 15, 2019. Plaintiff shall file its reply by no later than August 12, 2019. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 4/12/2019 (lcegs2) (Entered: 04/12/2019)
2019-04-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant Renewed Motion For Summary Judgment due by 5/15/2019. Plaintiff Opposition And Renewed Cross-Motion For Summary Judgment due by 6/14/2019. Defendant Reply And Opposition To Plaintiff's Motion due by 7/15/2019. Plaintiff Reply due by 8/12/2019. (mac) (Entered: 04/15/2019)
2019-05-1523Renewed MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Third Graff Decl. and Exhibits 1-3, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) Modified on 5/16/2019 (jf). (Entered: 05/15/2019)
2019-06-1124Memorandum in opposition to re 23 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts)(Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 06/11/2019)
2019-06-1125Second MOTION for Summary Judgment by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 06/11/2019)
2019-07-1526REPLY to opposition to motion re 23 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Attachments: # 1 Def.'s Resps. to Pl's Statement of Material Facts, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/15/2019)
2019-07-1527Memorandum in opposition to re 25 Second MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Attachments: # 1 Def.'s Resps. to Pl.'s Statement of Material Facts, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/15/2019)
2019-07-2228REPLY to opposition to motion re 25 Second MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 07/22/2019)
2020-06-0329NOTICE of Appearance by Paul J. Orfanedes on behalf of JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 06/03/2020)
2020-06-0430NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. Attorney Chris Fedeli terminated. (Fedeli, Chris) (Entered: 06/04/2020)
2020-08-0531NOTICE of Appearance by Lauren M. Burke on behalf of JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Burke, Lauren) (Main Document 31 replaced on 8/6/2020) (zjf). (Entered: 08/05/2020)
2020-11-2532ORDER granting 23 Motion for Summary Judgment; denying 25 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 11/25/2020. (lcegs1) (Entered: 11/25/2020)
2020-11-2533MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 11/25/2020. (lcegs1) (Entered: 11/25/2020)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar