Case Detail

FOIA Project Annotation: A federal court in Washington has ruled that the City of Seattle is prohibited from disclosing information about covert surveillance cameras mounted on Seattle City Light poles by the FBI. Learning that Seattle planned to disclose the information provided to Seattle City Light by the FBI in response to a Public Records Act request, the United States filed suit to block disclosure. Siding with the FBI, the court noted that "the requested information is (1) protected by the federal law enforcement privilege; (2) federal property, subject to the FBI's right to control and prohibit the disclosure of information by the City, absent the express authorization of the FBI; and (3) expressly protected from disclosure by the PRA. The Court is further persuaded that the disclosure of the requested information by the City will cause irreparable harm to important federal interests, namely, the ability to carry out effective investigations of criminal violations and national security threats."
Issues: Exemption 1 - Harm to national security

Date Filed	Doc #	Docket Text
2016-06-13	1	COMPLAINT against All Defendants Attorney Peter Angus Winn added to party United States of America(pty:pla), filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons)(Winn, Peter) (Fee Waived) Modified on 6/13/2016 (DJ). (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13	2	MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Plaintiff United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) Noting Date 6/13/2016, (Winn, Peter) Modified on 6/13/2016 (DJ). (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13	3	DECLARATION of Gregory Jennings filed by Plaintiff United States of America re 2 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E)(Winn, Peter) Modified on 6/13/2016 (DJ). (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13	4	DECLARATION of Steven Gumtow filed by Plaintiff United States of America re 2 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit)(Winn, Peter) Modified on 6/13/2016 (DJ). (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13		Judge Richard A. Jones added. (DJ) (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13	5	Summons(es) electronically issued as to defendant(s) City of Seattle, Seattle City Light. (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(DJ) (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13		NOTICE to Filer: PARTY NAME(S) ENTERED IN ALL CAPS: In the future when opening a new case, please DO NOT enter party name(s) in all caps. Thank you.(DJ) (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13	6	TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER re govt's 2 Motion for TRO by Judge Richard A Jones.(RS) (Entered: 06/13/2016)
2016-06-13	8	MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge Richard A. Jones - Dep Clerk: Victoria Ericksen ; Pla Counsel: Peter Winn, Kayla Stahman ; Def Counsel: Michael Ryan, Jessica Nadelman ; CR: Andrea Ramirez ; TELEPHONE CONFERENCE held on 6/13/2016 on Plaintiff's 2 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order. The court hears from counsel, makes findings on the record, and GRANTS Plaintiff's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order. (VE) (Entered: 06/14/2016)
2016-06-14	7	NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Michael K Ryan on behalf of Defendants City of Seattle, Seattle City Light. (Ryan, Michael) (Entered: 06/14/2016)
2016-06-15		Attorney Jessica Nadelman defendants added; per 7 Notice of Appearance. (RS) (Entered: 06/15/2016)
2016-06-16	9	STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER by parties re 6 Order on Motion for TRO (Winn, Peter) (Entered: 06/16/2016)
2016-06-20	10	AFFIDAVIT of Service of Summons and Complaint on Sabrina Johnson on 6/13/2016, filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Winn, Peter) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-20	11	AFFIDAVIT of Service of Summons and Complaint on Sabrina Johnson on 6/13/2016, filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Winn, Peter) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-20	12	STIPULATION AND ORDER by Judge Richard A. Jones. The Court's 6 Temporary Restraining Order is continued indefinitely. The hearing on a Preliminary Injunction shall be consolidated with the resolution of this case on the merits pursuant to Rule 65(a)(2). The Clerk is directed to not issue the Court's standard order regarding initial disclosures, joint status report, and early settlement. The Parties shall meet and confer, and within two weeks of the date of this Order, shall submit a briefing schedule for Plaintiff to file a motion for summary judgment. Should any of the PRA requesters identified in the Plaintiff's 2 TRO Motion seek leave to intervene in this case as Defendants, the Parties are directed to confer with the requesters regarding the briefing schedule. (VE) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-29	13	STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER RE BRIEFING SCHEDULE by parties (Stahman, Kayla) (Entered: 06/29/2016)
2016-06-30	14	NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Kayla Stahman on behalf of Plaintiff United States of America. (Stahman, Kayla) (Entered: 06/30/2016)
2016-06-30	15	NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF COUNSEL: Attorney Peter Angus Winn for Plaintiff United States of America. (Stahman, Kayla) (Entered: 06/30/2016)
2016-07-05		Pursuant to the parties' 13 Stipulated Briefing Schedule, the following deadlines shall apply to this case: Deadline for Plaintiff's Opening Brief is 8/15/2016, Deadline for Defendants' Response is 9/12/1016, Deadline for Plaintiff's Reply is 9/30/2016. (VE) (Entered: 07/05/2016)
2016-08-15	16	MOTION for Summary Judgment by Plaintiff United States of America. Noting Date 9/30/2016, (Stahman, Kayla) (Entered: 08/15/2016)
2016-08-16	17	PROPOSED ORDER (Unsigned) re 16 MOTION for Summary Judgment (Stahman, Kayla) (Entered: 08/16/2016)
2016-09-12	18	RESPONSE, by Defendants City of Seattle, Seattle City Light, to 16 MOTION for Summary Judgment . (Ryan, Michael) (Entered: 09/12/2016)
2016-09-12	19	DECLARATION of Jessica Nadelman filed by Defendants City of Seattle, Seattle City Light re 16 MOTION for Summary Judgment (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Ryan, Michael) (Entered: 09/12/2016)
2016-09-20	20	NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Brian C Kipnis on behalf of Plaintiff United States of America. (Kipnis, Brian) (Entered: 09/20/2016)
2016-09-28	21	REPLY, filed by Plaintiff United States of America, TO RESPONSE to 16 MOTION for Summary Judgment (Stahman, Kayla) (Entered: 09/28/2016)
2017-01-17	22	ORDER granting govt's 16 Motion for Summary Judgment by Judge Richard A Jones.(RS) (Entered: 01/17/2017)
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