Case Detail

FOIA Project Annotation: A federal judge in Alaska has ruled that the FBI properly issued a no-records response to Steven Stoufer in response his request for records pertaining to his allegation that the agency had retaliated against him for refusing to become an informant. The court noted that "given that Plaintiff sought records related to himself, ostensibly alleging that he is the subject of â€" or associated with â€" FBI law enforcement activity, ay such information would reasonably be expected to reside within [the Central Records System]. The FBI searched the system twice with adequate variations and found no responsive records." Stoufer objected to the fact that the FBI was unable to find several emails he had sent. The court, however, noted that "plaintiff has not adduced admissible evidence of his alleged communications with the FBI. The purported emails are merely lines of text. The documents do not contain the distinctive characteristics of an email, such as the identity of the sender and the recipient, the date and time sent, and the subject line. Accordingly, the Court declines to consider these documents in assessing the adequacy of the FBI's search. And even if the Court were to consider the purported emails, 'the failure to produce or identity a few isolated documents cannot by itself prove the searches inadequate.'"
Issues: Adequacy - Search

Date Filed	Doc #	Docket Text
2020-02-26	1	COMPLAINT against Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Filing fee $400/receipt #ANC016654.), filed by Steven Stoufer.(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-26	2	Civil Cover Sheet. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-27	3	Unissued summons re Defendant Federal Bureau of Investigation, (Attachments: # 1 Unissued Summons re Defendant DOJ Office of Inspector General)(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 02/27/2020)
2020-02-27		Summons Issued as to Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 02/27/2020)
2020-04-13	4	ORDER re Notice of Stay. This case is stayed until 5/1/2020. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 4/13/20. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 04/13/2020)
2020-04-13	5	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons, filed by Steven Stoufer. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 04/14/2020)
2020-04-27	6	FIRST AMENDED NOTICE OF STAY: This case is stayed until 6/1/2020. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 4/27/20. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 04/27/2020)
2020-05-22	7	NOTICE OF DISCONTINUATION OF COPIES Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 5/22/20. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 05/22/2020)
2020-06-03	8	ANSWER to 1 Complaint by Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation.(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 06/03/2020)
2020-06-04	9	INITIAL CASE STATUS REPORT/CASE SCHEDULING AND PLANNING ORDER: Counsel for plaintiff shall serve and file the Rule 26 Meeting Report within 21 days of service of this order. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 6/4/2020. (CFR, Chambers Staff) (Entered: 06/04/2020)
2020-06-05	11	FINANCIAL AFFIDAVIT - CJA 23 by Steven Stoufer. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 06/08/2020)
2020-06-11	12	RESPONSE TO ORDER [DKT 9] re INITIAL SCHEDULING & PLANNING CONFERENCE REPORT by Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation. (Fonstad, John) (Entered: 06/11/2020)
2020-06-12	13	ORDER re 10 EX PARTE MOTION filed by Steven Stoufer. The Motion to file Ex Parte is GRANTED. The underlying Motion Requesting Volunteer Attorney is DENIED. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 6/12/20. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 06/12/2020)
2020-06-16	14	ORDER re 12 Response to Order filed by Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 6/16/2020. (CFR, CHAMBERS STAFF) (Entered: 06/16/2020)
2020-06-16	15	MOTION for Continuance for Response to Motion for Clarification and Conference Report re 12 Response to Order by Steven Stoufer.(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 06/16/2020)
2020-06-18	16	SLG TEXT ORDER : In light of the order at docket 14 in which the Court provided clarification regarding the order at docket 9 , Plaintiffs Motion for Continuance for Response to Motion for Clarification and Conference Report at docket 15 is denied as moot. The parties shall confer and propose a briefing schedule by 7/8/2020 as specified at docket 14 . (CFR, CHAMBERS STAFF) (Entered: 06/18/2020)
2020-07-08	17	STATUS REPORT (JOINT) by Federal Bureau of Investigation. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 07/08/2020)
2020-07-09	18	SCHEDULING ORDER . Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 7/9/2020. (CFR, CHAMBERS STAFF) (Entered: 07/09/2020)
2020-07-13	19	MOTION to Amend 1 Complaint by Steven Stoufer. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Amended Complaint, # 2 Proposed Order)(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/14/2020)
2020-07-17	20	RESPONSE to Motion (Non-Opposition) re 19 MOTION to Amend/Correct 1 Complaint filed by Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. (Fonstad, John) (Entered: 07/17/2020)
2020-07-20	21	ORDER granting 19 Motion to Amend/Correct. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 7/20/2020. (CFR, CHAMBERS STAFF) (Entered: 07/20/2020)
2020-07-21	22	AMENDED COMPLAINT against Department of Justice, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, United States Marshals Service, filed by Steven Stoufer.(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/21/2020)
2020-07-24	23	Unissued summons re Defendant Office of the Attorney General, (Attachments: # 1 Unissued Summons re Defendant U.S. Department of Justice, # 2 Unissued Summons re Defendant U.S. Federal Marshals)(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/24/2020)
2020-07-24		Summons Issued as to Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, United States Marshals Service. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/24/2020)
2020-07-29	24	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons served on All Defendants on 7/28/2020, filed by Steven Stoufer. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-07-29	25	COPY of Summons issued to Office of the Attorney General by Steven Stoufer (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-07-29	26	COPY of Summons issued to U.S. Department of Justice by Steven Stoufer (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-07-29	27	COPY of Summons issued to U.S. Federal Marshals by Steven Stoufer (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-08-04	28	ANSWER to 22 Amended Complaint by Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation.(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-08-12	29	SUPPLEMENT (with page 4) by Steven Stoufer 22 Amended Complaint filed by Steven Stoufer. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 08/12/2020)
2020-08-27	30	ANSWER to 22 Amended Complaint by United States Marshals Service.(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-08-27	31	ANSWER to 22 Amended Complaint by Office of the Attorney General.(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-09-02	32	MOTION for Clarification of Disputed Facts and Need for Discovery by Steven Stoufer. (Attachments: # 1 A, # 2 B, # 3 Proposed Order)(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 09/04/2020)
2020-09-11	33	RESPONSE in Opposition re 32 MOTION for Clarification of Disputed Facts and Need for Discovery filed by Department of Justice, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, United States Marshals Service. (Fonstad, John) (Entered: 09/11/2020)
2020-09-17	34	REPLY to Response to Motion re 32 MOTION for Clarification of Disputed Facts and Need for Discovery filed by Steven Stoufer. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 09/18/2020)
2020-09-28	35	NOTICE Defendants' Proposed Scheduling Order by Department of Justice, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, United States Marshals Service re 18 Order (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-09-30	36	NOTICE Proposed Scheduling Order by Steven Stoufer (Attachments: # 1 Scheduling Order)(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 10/02/2020)
2020-10-07	37	ORDER RE PLAINTIFF'S REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION OF DISPUTED FACTS AND NEED FOR DISCOVERY AND SCHEDULING ORDER: Plaintiff's motion for discovery at this time, at docket 32 , is DENIED. Plaintiff seeking clarification or interpretation of Defendants' answer by the Court, is DENIED. Defendant shall file a motion for summary judgement by 11/6/2020 . See Order for additional deadlines. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 10/7/20. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 10/07/2020)
2020-11-03	38	MOTION for Summary Judgment by Department of Justice, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, United States Marshals Service. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - FBI Declaration, # 2 Exhibit B - OIG Declaration, # 3 Exhibit C - OIG FOIA Production, # 4 Exhibit D - DOJ-OIP Declaration, # 5 Exhibit E - USMS Declaration)(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2020-11-04	39	Notice to Counsel re 38 MOTION for Summary Judgment. A review of the document submitted at dkt 38 confirms that it is over 25 pages in length. If a CHAMBERS copy of the document has not been forwarded to the Court, counsel is reminded that, pursuant to D.Ak.LR 5.4 and the Administrative Policies and Procedures, you are required to provide the court with a CHAMBERS copy of your filing at dkt 38. The CHAMBERS copy must be attached to a copy of the Notice of Electronic Filing and must be printed with the ECF pdf footer on each page. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 11/04/2020)
2020-12-01	40	DECLARATION of Steven Stoufer by Steven Stoufer. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(PXS, COURT STAFF) Modified on 12/4/2020 to link to dkt 38 (JLH, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 12/02/2020)
2020-12-14	41	REPLY to Response to Motion re 38 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Department of Justice, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, United States Marshals Service. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A: Supplemental Declaration of Michael G. Seidel)(Fonstad, John) (Entered: 12/14/2020)
2021-04-12	42	MOTION to Amend Complaint to Add Defendant 22 Amended Complaint by Steven Stoufer. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Proposed Order)(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-15	43	RESPONSE in Opposition re 42 MOTION to Amend/Correct 22 Amended Complaint filed by Department of Justice, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, United States Marshals Service. (Fonstad, John) (Entered: 04/15/2021)
2021-04-27	44	ORDER denying 42 Motion to Amend/Correct Amended Complaint. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 4/27/21. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 04/27/2021)
2021-04-27	45	ORDER granting 38 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 4/27/21. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 04/27/2021)
2021-04-27	46	JUDGMENT Signed by Judge Sharon L. Gleason on 4/27/21. (JLH, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 04/27/2021)
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