Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitlePendell v. United States Secret Service
DistrictNorthern District of New York
CitySyracuse Albany
Case Number1:2018cv00352
Date Filed2018-03-21
Date Closed2019-12-16
JudgeChief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby
PlaintiffPerry Pendell
Case DescriptionPerry Pendell, a New York state prisoner, submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Secret Service for records about himself. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after it failed to respond, Pendell filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Recovery of Costs

DefendantUnited States Secret Service
DefendantKim Campbell Special Agent in Charge - Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Officer
DefendantKim Campbell Special Agent in Charge - Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Officer
TERMINATED: 06/06/2018
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Opinion/Order [8]
Opinion/Order [37]
FOIA Project Annotation: A federal court in New York has ruled that the U.S. Secret Service properly responded to a FOIA request from Perry Pendell, who had been charged with sexual contact with an underage girl. Pendell's request asked for extraction reports performed on a number of electronic devices. The agency denied Pendell's request under Exemption 7(A) (interference with ongoing investigation or proceeding). However, after Pendell's investigative file was closed, the agency disclosed the investigative file but redacted information on 28 pages under Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy) and Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records). The agency redacted information on 22 pages under Exemption 7(E) (investigative methods or techniques). The court rejected Pendell's claim that his personal interest outweighed the individual privacy interests under Exemption 7(C) redactions. The court noted that "the fact that these individuals were involved in activity and investigations that are of unique interest to Plaintiff for his personal purposes does not alter the need for a sufficiently strong public interest." The court added that "Plaintiff has not offered any reason that the invasion of the relevant individuals' privacy as to these matters was warranted, much less that there is a significant public interest to outweigh that privacy interest." Upholding the 7(E) claims as well, the court pointed out that the agency's assertion that "disclosure of the techniques and methods by which Defendant is able to extract information from electronic devices would, if made public, allow individuals to devise ways to circumvent that technology and procedures that would undermine the efficacy of criminal investigations is both logical and plausible."
Issues: Exemption 7(C) - Invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records, Exemption 7(E) - Investigative methods or techniques, Exemption 6 - Invasion of privacy
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-03-211COMPLAINT against Kim Campbell, United States Secret Service filed by Perry Pendell. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibits A-V, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Cover Letter, # 4 Envelope)(hmr) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-212MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Perry Pendell. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Summons for United States Secret Service - Kim Campbell) Motions referred to Therese Wiley Dancks. (hmr) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-213INMATE AUTHORIZATION FORM by Perry Pendell. (hmr) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-214MOTION to Appoint Counsel filed by Perry Pendell. Motions referred to Therese Wiley Dancks. (hmr) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-225PRO SE HANDBOOK and NOTICE (pro se packet) mailed to pro se plaintiff, Perry Pendell via regular mail on 3/22/2018. (hmr) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-04-046Letter Motion from Perry Pendell requesting clarification of the number and initials that are written on top of the pro se notice. Also enclosed the pro se notice, he states in this letter that it was signed by him, but the notice was unsigned. Also enclosed a couple of letters he received from attorneys regarding his 4 Motion to Appoint Counsel. (hmr) (Entered: 04/04/2018)
2018-04-097ORDER AND REPORT RECOMMENDATION: re 1 Complaint filed by Perry Pendell: Ordered that Plaintiff's IFP Application (Dkt. No. 2 ) is Granted; Recommended that this action be dismissed as against individual Defendant Kim Campbell; Recommended that if the District Court adopts this Report-Recommendation, the Clerk shall issue a summons and forward it, along with a copy of the complaint containing General Order 25, which sets for the Civil Case Management Plan used by the Northern District of New York, to the United States Marshal for service upon Defendant USSS; Recommended that a formal response to Plaintiff's complaint be filed by Defendant USSS as provided for in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure subsequent to service of process on Defendant; Ordered that Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel (Dkt. No. 4 ) is Denied without Prejudice; Ordered that Plaintiff's April 4, 2018, letter motion (Dkt. No. 6 ) is Denied as Moot and Ordered that the Clerk provide Plaintiff with a copy of this Order and Report-Recommendation and General Order 25, along with copies of the unpublished decisions cited herein in accordance with Lebron v. Sanders, 557 F.3d 76 (2d Cir. 2008) (per curiam).(Objections to R&R due by 4/26/2018, Case Review Deadline 4/30/2018)Motions terminated: 4 MOTION to Appoint Counsel filed by Perry Pendell, 6 Letter Motion from Perry Pendell for Perry Pendell requesting clarification of what was written on top of the pro se notice. filed by Perry Pendell, 2 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Perry Pendell. Signed by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 04/09/2018. (Copy served upon pro se plaintiff via regular mail at Coxsackie Correctional Facility on 4/9/2018.)(hmr) (Entered: 04/09/2018)
2018-06-068DECISION and ORDER: that Magistrate Judge Dancks' Report-Recommendation (Dkt. No. 7 ) is Accepted and Adopted in its entirety; that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Kim Campbell are sua sponte Dismissed with prejudice for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction; that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant United States Secret Service survive the Court's sua sponte review of his Complaint; that the Clerk of the Court is directed to issue a Summons and forward it, along with a copy of the Complaint containing General Order 25 (which sets forth the Civil Case Management Plan used by the Northern District of New York), to the U.S. Marshal for service upon Defendant USSS; and that, after service of process, Defendant USSS shall file a response to Plaintiff's Complaint in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Signed by Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on 06/06/2018. (Copy served upon pro se plaintiff at Coxsackie Correctional Facility via regular mail on 6/7/2018.)(hmr) (Entered: 06/07/2018)
2018-06-079TEXT ORDER directing the U.S. Marshal Service to serve the Summons, Complaint and G.O. 25 upon Defendant U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Attorney and the Attorney General pursuant to Rule 4 of the Fed.R.Civ.P. SO ORDERED by Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on 6/7/18. (lmw) (Entered: 06/07/2018)
2018-06-0710Summons Issued as to United States Secret Service. (Attachments: # 1 Summons Issued for Offices of the United States Attorneys, # 2 Summons Issued for the Attorney General of the United States)(hmr) (Entered: 06/07/2018)
2018-06-0811TEXT ORDER: Court has reviewed docket and notes that because this is a pro se matter involving the claim of an inmate, General Order 25 should not be issued. Therefore, the Clerk is directed to forward the summons and complaint only to the Marshal for service pursuant to Dkt. No. 9 . Once issue is joined, the Court will issue a scheduling order. SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 6/8/2018. (A copy of this Text Order has been served on pro se party(ies) via regular mail.)(sg) (Entered: 06/08/2018)
2018-06-2712ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERVICE (USM 285 Form) Executed as to United States Secret Service served on Attorney General on 6/20/2018, answer due 8/20/2018. (jlb) (Entered: 06/27/2018)
2018-06-2713ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERVICE (USM 285 Form) Executed as to US Attorney. (jlb) (Entered: 06/29/2018)
2018-07-2314ANSWER to 1 Complaint by United States Secret Service. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit Of Service)(Clark, Cathleen) (Entered: 07/23/2018)
2018-07-2415MANDATORY PRETRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER: Document discovery to be completed by 9/24/2018. All Discovery due by 11/21/2018. Discovery Motions, such as motions to compel, to be filed by 12/3/2018. Dispositive Motions to be filed by 2/19/2019. Signed by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 7/24/2018. (A copy of this Scheduling Order has been served on pro se party via regular mail.)(sg ) (Entered: 07/24/2018)
2018-07-3016Letter Motion from Perry Pendell requesting permission to file a motion for summary judgment or a reply to defendant's answer. Also requests a return date and a form for summary judgment. (hmr) (Entered: 07/30/2018)
2018-07-3117BILL OF COSTS submitted by US Marshal re: Service Fees totaling $81.00. (hmr) (Entered: 07/31/2018)
2018-07-3118Summons Returned Unexecuted as to United States Secret Service. (hmr) (Entered: 07/31/2018)
2018-08-0219TEXT ORDER: Court has reviewed Plaintiff's letter motion (Dkt. No. 16 ) to file a reply to the Answer, which is denied. No counterclaims are made in the answer and therefore the Court finds a reply is unnecessary. Plaintiff should note the Court's pretrial discovery schedule (Dkt. No. 15 ); Plaintiff may file a summary judgment motion at anytime on or before the dispositive motion deadline of 2/19/2019. However, Plaintiff may wish to obtain discovery prior to making a summary judgment motion. SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 8/2/2018. (A copy of this Text Order has been served on pro se party(ies) via regular mail.) (sg) (Entered: 08/02/2018)
2018-08-1520Letter from Pendell to the US Marshals providing additional documents for service on US Secret Service. (Attachments: # 1 envelope)(nas, ) (Entered: 08/15/2018)
2018-08-1621**STRICKEN pursuant to the 8/17/2018 Text Order of Magistrate Judge Dancks***INTERROGATORIES by Perry Pendell. (Attachments: # 1 Cover letter and copy of letter from United States Marshals Service, # 2 Envelope)(hmr) Modified on 8/17/2018 (sg, ). (Entered: 08/16/2018)
2018-08-1722TEXT ORDER TO STRIKE re: 21 Discovery filed by Perry Pendell. It is hereby ORDERED, that Dkt. 21 shall be stricken from the docket for the following reason. Because Plaintiff's submission is being stricken from the docket it will not be considered by the Court. Pursuant to Local Rule 26.2, the Court does not accept the filing of discovery materials, such as interrogatories and document demands, unless the Court specifically directs such documents be filed or when submitted in support of a motion filed pursuant to Rule 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Since the Court has not directed the filing of the discovery in this action nor is Plaintiff's submission in support of a motion filed pursuant to Rule 37, neither discovery materials nor certificates of service regarding the same are to be filed with the Court. SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 8/17/2018. (A copy of this Text Order has been served on pro se party(ies) via regular mail.)(sg) (Entered: 08/17/2018)
2018-11-1623Letter Motion from Perry Pendell requesting a stay for discovery submitted to Judge Therese Wiley Dancks. (hmr) (Entered: 11/16/2018)
2018-11-1924TEXT ORDER: Court reviewed letter motion (Dkt. No. 23 ) for stay of discovery, which is denied. However, discovery deadline extended to 12/21/2018. Discovery Motions due 12/28/2018. Dispositive motion deadline remains 2/19/2019. SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 11/19/2018. (A copy of this Text Order has been served on pro se party(ies) via regular mail.) (sg) (Entered: 11/19/2018)
2019-01-0925TEXT ORDER STAYING CASE: Discovery closed as of 12/21/2018. (Dkt. No. 24.) However, due to lack of budget appropriations and pursuant to General Order #48, this case is STAYED for all remaining deadlines (here, discovery motions and dispositive motions) until the business day after the President signs into law a budget appropriation that restores Department of Justice funding; and it is further ORDERED that all deadlines, including scheduling order deadlines and seal deadlines in qui tam cases, are tolled for the duration of the Government shutdown and extended thereafter for a period of time equal to the number of days between 12/22/2018 and the date the President signs into law a budget appropriation that restores Department of Justice funding, unless otherwise ordered by the Court. The United States Attorney's Office shall notify the Court within 10 business days after restoration of Department of Justice funding so that the stay may be lifted and relevant deadlines reset. SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 1/9/2019. (copy of Text Order served on pro se party via regular mail.)(sg) (Entered: 01/09/2019)
2019-01-2926STATUS REPORT Regarding End of Government Shutdown by United States Secret Service. (Clark, Cathleen) (Entered: 01/29/2019)
2019-01-3027TEXT ORDER LIFTING STAY: As the Court has been notified by the Department of Justice that appropriations have been restored, the stay of this case is lifted and progression of the case may resume. Relevant deadlines will be reset by separate text notice. SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 1/30/2019. (A copy of this Text Order has been served on pro se party(ies) via regular mail.)(sg) (Entered: 01/30/2019)
2019-01-30TEXT NOTICE RE-SETTING DEADLINES: The following deadlines, which were not yet expired as of 12/22/2019, have been reset as follows: Discovery due by 2/19/2019. Discovery Motions due 2/26/2019. Dispositive Motions to be filed by 4/22/2019. (A copy of this Text Order has been served on pro se party(ies) via regular mail.) (sg, (Entered: 01/30/2019)
2019-04-1628Letter Motion from United States for United States Secret Service requesting Extension of Dispositive Motion Deadline submitted to Judge Dancks . (Clark, Cathleen) (Entered: 04/16/2019)
2019-04-1729TEXT ORDER granting Defendant's 28 Letter Request for extension. Motions to be filed by 5/10/2019. Any further requests for extensions that do not contain a good cause reason for the request will be summarily denied. SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 4/17/2019. (copy of this text order served on pro se party via regular mail.) (sg ) (Entered: 04/17/2019)
2019-05-1030MOTION for Summary Judgment Motion Hearing set for 6/20/2019 10:00 AM in Syracuse before Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby Response to Motion due by 6/3/2019 Reply to Response to Motion due by 6/10/2019. filed by United States Secret Service. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Material Facts, # 2 Memorandum of Law, # 3 Declaration of Kim E. Campbell, # 4 Exhibit(s) Plaintiff's Complaint, # 5 Exhibit(s) Defendant's Answer, # 6 Appendix of Unreported Cases for Pro Se Plaintiff, # 7 Notification of Failure to Respond, # 8 Affidavit of Service) (Clark, Cathleen) (Attachment 3 replaced on 5/21/2019) (lmw, ). (Additional attachment(s) added on 5/21/2019: # 9 Sealed Unredacted Declaration of Kim E. Campbell) (lmw, ). (Entered: 05/10/2019)
2019-05-10TEXT NOTICE on # 30 MOTION for Summary Judgment : Motion set for 6/20/2019 on submission of motion papers before Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. No personal appearance. Response to Motion due by 6/3/2019. Reply to Response to Motion due by 6/10/2019. (lmw) (Copy served upon pro se plaintiff via regular mail) (Entered: 05/10/2019)
2019-05-1431Letter Motion for United States Secret Service requesting To Seal Exhibit 1 with attachments submitted to Judge HON. GLENN T. SUDDABY . (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order/Judgment Seal Documents, # 2 Record Insert)(Clark, Cathleen) (Entered: 05/14/2019)
2019-05-1532TEXT ORDER denying without prejudice # 31 Defendant's letter-motion as unsupported by a showing of cause under Local Rule 83.13(a) and Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga Cty. , 435 F.3d 110, 125-26 (2d Cir. 2006). As a temporary remedial measure, the Clerk's Office is directed to immediately seal Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(d), because information protected by Local Rule 8.1 is scattered throughout that document (e.g., pages 30, 107, 110, 111-15, 118, and 119). Meanwhile, Defendant is directed to show cause, within SEVEN (7) DAYS of this Text Order, why Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3, should not be STRUCK from the docket (and not considered by the Court) because it (1) violates Local Rule 8.1 as discussed above, and (2) redacts from the Court's view information on which Defendant relies (i.e., information redacted pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552). Defendant is advised that, in lieu of showing such cause, it may, within SEVEN (7) DAYS of this Text Order, do the following two things: (1) publicly file a version of the current Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3, that redacts information protected by Local Rule 8.1; and (2) email to the undersigned's Courtroom Deputy (Lori_Welch@nynd.uscourts.gov), for sealed filing (to which Plaintiff will not have access), a completely unredacted version of the document contained in Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3. Upon the Court's receipt of the latter document, the Court will substitute it for the current Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3 (and keep it under seal). The parties are advised that any counsel Plaintiff should happen to retain during the course of this proceeding is hereby directed to not share the unredacted information contained in the latter document with Plaintiff, unless permitted to do so by the Court. SO ORDERED by Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on 5/15/19. (lmw) (Copy served upon pro se plaintiff via regular mail) (Entered: 05/15/2019)
2019-05-2033Letter Motion from Cathleen B. Clark, Esq. for United States Secret Service requesting that the unredacted copy of Docket # 30 , Attach. 3 be filed under seal with proposed sealing order submitted to Judge Suddaby, and further requesting that the revised redacted copy of Docket # 30 , Attach. 3 now in compliance with Local Rule 8.1 be uploaded onto the docket in place of the current Dkt. No. 303 filed on 5/10/19. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Sealing Order)(lmw) (Entered: 05/21/2019)
2019-05-2134TEXT ORDER granting # 33 Defendant's letter-motion requesting that the unredacted copy of Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3 be filed under seal. Under the governing legal standard set forth in Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga Cty. , 435 F.3d 110, 125-26 (2d Cir. 2006), the Court concludes that the unredacted copy of Dkt. No. 30 Attach. 3 should be sealed. In rendering this conclusion, the Court finds that such sealing is (1) essential to preserve values higher than a qualified First Amendment right of access to the material in question and (2) narrowly tailored to serve that interest. As a result, the Clerk of the Court is directed upload a redacted copy of Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3 to Dkt. No. 30 at Attach. 9 and to place the document under seal. The Court bases this Text Order on Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(d) and Local Rule 83.13(a). The Court further grants Defendant's letter-motion to replace Dkt. No. 30 , Attach. 3 with the revised redacted version of that document which is now in compliance with Local Rule 8.1. SO ORDERED by Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on 5/21/19. (lmw) (Copy served upon pro se plaintiff via regular mail) (Entered: 05/21/2019)
2019-05-21CLERK'S CORRECTION OF DOCKET ENTRY: Docket No. 30 , Attachment 3 was replaced with a revised redacted version of the document so that personal identifiers were redacted, and this document is now unsealed. The unredacted version of the Declaration of Kim E. Campbell with exhibits was uploaded to Docket No. 30 at Attachment 9, and this document is SEALED pursuant to # 32 Text Order dated 5/15/19 and # 34 Text Order dated 5/21/19. (lmw) (Copy served upon pro se plaintiff via regular mail) (Entered: 05/21/2019)
2019-05-2835RESPONSE in Opposition re 30 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Perry Pendell. (Attachments: # 1 Challenage to Declaration of Kim Campbell, # 2 response to defendants' statement of undisputed material facts, # 3 exhibits 1 thru 4, # 4 exhibits 5 to 12)(nas, ) (Additional attachment(s) added on 5/28/2019: # 5 Delaration of Kim Campbell with exhibits a thru l) (nas, ). (Additional attachment(s) added on 5/28/2019: # 6 exhibit M to Campbell, # 7 cover ltr and aff of service, # 8 envelope) (nas, ). (Entered: 05/28/2019)
2019-06-0736REPLY to Response to Motion re 30 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by United States Secret Service. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) Declaration of Agent Dengler with Exhibit 1 Original FOIA request attached, # 2 Affidavit of Service)(Clark, Cathleen) (Entered: 06/07/2019)
2019-12-1637DECISION AND ORDER that Defendant's motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 30 ) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's Complaint (Dkt. No. 1 ) is DISMISSED. Signed by Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on 12/16/2019. (Copy served upon plaintiff via regular mail).(sal) (Entered: 12/16/2019)
2019-12-1638JUDGMENT that, pursuant to the Decision and Order dated December 16, 2019 (Dkt. No. 37 ) issued by Chief District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby, the Defendant's motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 30 ) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's Complaint (Dkt. No. 1 ) is DISMISSED and the action is CLOSED. (Copy served upon plaintiff via regular mail). (sal ) (Entered: 12/16/2019)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar