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Case TitleMcLean v. Social Security Administration
DistrictSouthern District of New York
CityFoley Square
Case Number1:2017cv06978
Date Filed2017-09-13
Date Closed2019-03-07
JudgeJudge Colleen McMahon
PlaintiffOmel McLean
on behalf of J.N.M. a minor
Case DescriptionOmel McLean, the father and natural guardian of J.N.M., a 17-year-old child, submitted a FOIA request to the Social Security Administration for records concerning a complaint McLean could pursue for failure to investigate the activities of J.N.M.'s former representative payee. After hearing nothing further from the agency, McLean filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantSocial Security Administration
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Opinion/Order [51]
FOIA Project Annotation: A federal court in New York has ruled that the Social Security Administration conducted an adequate search for records about SSA disability payments for Omel McLean's minor son. McLean believed that his son's grandmother was receiving the payments and spending them for her personal benefit. He submitted a FOIA request to the SSA for records concerning contacts between the agency and the grandmother, as well as records concerning his own contacts with the agency. After the agency failed to respond, McLean filed suit. The agency provided records but did not find any records concerning contacts with the grandmother. The court found the agency's search was reasonable. McLean argued that the agency had acted in bad faith. But the court pointed out that "an agency's initial delay in responding to a FOIA request â€" even delays of several years â€" is not evidence of bad faith." The court added that "likewise, the government's inability to locate the documents Plaintiff believes should exist is not an indication of bad faith if its search was otherwise reasonable. Technical failings and gaps in records located do not suggest bad faith if the method of the search was reasonable."
Issues: Adequacy - Search
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2017-09-131COMPLAINT against Social Security Administration. Document filed by Omel McLean. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proof of Mailing, # 2 Exhibit Proof of Receipt, # 3 Exhibit Redacted Copy of FOIA Request)(Baker, James) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-132CIVIL COVER SHEET filed. (Baker, James) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-133REQUEST TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-134FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT PLEADING - SUMMONS REQUEST PDF ERROR - REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Social Security Administration, re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Omel McLean. (Baker, James) Modified on 9/20/2017 (pc). (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-14***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING PARTY MODIFICATION. Notice to attorney James M. Baker. The party information for the following party/parties has been modified: Added Alias - J.N.M. a minor to Omel McLean; Social Security Administration. The information for the party/parties has been modified for the following reason/reasons: alias party name was omitted. (rch) (Entered: 09/14/2017)
2017-09-14CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Colleen McMahon. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/District . Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf_filing.php . (rch) (Entered: 09/14/2017)
2017-09-14Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker is so designated. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: http://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms.php . (rch) (Entered: 09/14/2017)
2017-09-14Case Designated ECF. (rch) (Entered: 09/14/2017)
2017-09-185ORDER REFERRING CASE TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE. Order that case be referred to the Clerk of Court for assignment to a Magistrate Judge for Social Security. Referred to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. (Signed by Judge Colleen McMahon on 9/18/2017) (mro) (Entered: 09/18/2017)
2017-09-206MEMO ENDORSEMENT: on APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYING FEES OR COSTS: ENDORSEMENT: APPLICATION GRANTED. Leave to proceed in this Court without prepayment of fees is authorized. 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 9/20/2017) (ap) (Entered: 09/20/2017)
2017-09-207FILING ERROR - WRONG EVENT TYPE SELECTED FROM MENU - REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF AMENDED SUMMONS as to Social Security Administration, re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Omel McLean. (Baker, James) Modified on 9/20/2017 (pc). (Entered: 09/20/2017)
2017-09-20***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS. Notice to Attorney to RE-FILE Document No. 7 Request for Issuance of Amended Summons,. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): the wrong event type was used to file the request for issuance of summons. Re-file the document using the event type Request for Issuance of Summons found under the event list Service of Process - select the correct filer/filers - and attach the correct summons form PDF. (pc) (Entered: 09/20/2017)
2017-09-208REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Social Security Administration, re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Omel McLean. (Baker, James) (Entered: 09/20/2017)
2017-09-209ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Social Security Administration. (pc) (Entered: 09/20/2017)
2017-09-2110AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE of Summons and Complaint. Social Security Administration served on 9/21/2017, answer due 10/12/2017. Service was made by mail. Document filed by Omel McLean. (Baker, James) (Entered: 09/21/2017)
2017-09-2211ORDER. By no later than October 31, 2017, Defendant shall file a letter on the docket specifying whether it has responded to Plaintiff's request made under the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"). To the extent Defendant has objected to Plaintiff's FOIA request in whole or in part, Defendant shall explain its objections with citations to legal authority. So Ordered. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 9/22/17) (yv) (Entered: 09/22/2017)
2017-10-0512NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Joseph Anthony Pantoja on behalf of Social Security Administration. (Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 10/05/2017)
2017-10-2613ANSWER to 1 Complaint. Document filed by Social Security Administration.(Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 10/26/2017)
2017-10-3014LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker from Joseph A. Pantoja, AUSA dated October 30, 2017 re: whether SSA responded to plaintiff's FOIA request. Document filed by Social Security Administration.(Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 10/30/2017)
2017-10-3015LETTER MOTION for Conference addressed to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker from James M. Baker dated October 30, 2017. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 10/30/2017)
2017-10-3116ORDER granting 15 Letter Motion for Conference. APPLICATION GRANTED: A conference in this matter is scheduled for Monday, November 27, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. in Courtroom 17-D, United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York. The purpose of the conference is to discuss the issues raised in plaintiff's 10/30/2017 Letter (ECF #15). Application Granted. (Status Conference set for 11/27/2017 at 03:00 PM in Courtroom 17D, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.) (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 10/31/17) (yv) (Entered: 10/31/2017)
2017-11-2717Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker: Status Conference held on 11/27/2017. The parties are directed to file a status letter with the court by 01/26/2018: see transcript for details.A transcript of this proceeding is available by utilizing the attached order form. (ca) (Entered: 11/27/2017)
2017-12-0418ANSWER to 1 Complaint. Document filed by Social Security Administration.(Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 12/04/2017)
2018-01-2619LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time to File Status Letter addressed to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker from James M. Baker dated January 26, 2018. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 01/26/2018)
2018-01-2920ORDER granting 19 Letter Motion for Extension of Time to File Status Letter. Application Granted. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 1/29/18) (yv) (Entered: 01/29/2018)
2018-02-0221STATUS REPORT. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 02/02/2018)
2018-02-0622MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 21 Status Report filed by Omel McLean. ENDORSEMENT: APPLICATION GRANTED. The parties are directed to file a further status report by February 16, 2018. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 2/6/2018) (mro) (Entered: 02/07/2018)
2018-02-1623STATUS REPORT. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 02/16/2018)
2018-02-2024MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 23 Status Report filed by Omel McLean. ENDORSEMENT: The Court thanks the parties for the update. The parties shall file a letter updating the Court on the status of discovery by March 22, 2018. So Ordered. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 2/20/18) (yv) (Entered: 02/20/2018)
2018-03-2225STATUS REPORT. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-2326MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 25 Status Report filed by Omel McLean. ENDORSEMENT: APPLICATION GRANTED. The Court thanks the parties for the update and directs Plaintiff to file a status report on or before May 3, 2018. So Ordered. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 3/23/18) (yv) (Entered: 03/23/2018)
2018-05-0327STATUS REPORT. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 05/03/2018)
2018-05-0428MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 27 Status Report filed by Omel McLean. ENDORSEMENT: APPLICATION GRANTED: The Court thanks the parties for the update and directs Plaintiff to file a status report on or before May 30, 2018. So Ordered. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 5/4/18) (yv) (Entered: 05/04/2018)
2018-05-3029STATUS REPORT. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 05/30/2018)
2018-05-3130MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 29 Status Report filed by Omel McLean. ENDORSEMENT: APPLICATION GRANTED: The Court directs the parties to file a status report on or before June 15, 2018. So Ordcered. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 5/31/18) (yv) (Entered: 05/31/2018)
2018-06-1531STATUS REPORT. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 06/15/2018)
2018-06-1832MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 31 Status Report filed by Omel McLean. ENDORSEMENT: APPLICATION GRANTED: The Court directs the parties to file a status report on or before July 18, 2018. So Ordered. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 6/18/18) (yv) (Entered: 06/18/2018)
2018-07-1633LETTER MOTION for Conference addressed to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker from James M. Baker dated 07/16/2018. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 07/16/2018)
2018-07-1634LETTER RESPONSE to Motion addressed to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker from Joseph A. Pantoja, AUSA dated July 16, 2018 re: 33 LETTER MOTION for Conference addressed to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker from James M. Baker dated 07/16/2018. . Document filed by Social Security Administration. (Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 07/16/2018)
2018-07-1735ORDER SCHEDULING TELEPHONE CONFERENCE granting 33 Letter Motion for Conference. A telephone conference in this matter is hereby scheduled for Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. to address the issues raised by the parties at Doc. Nos. 33-34. The parties are no longer required to file a further status report by July 18, 2018. SO ORDERED. (Telephone Conference set for 8/2/2018 at 01:30 PM before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.) (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 7/17/18) (yv) (Entered: 07/17/2018)
2018-08-0236SCHEDULING ORDER: As discussed at today's conference, by September 14, 2018, Defendant shall move to dismiss and/or for summary judgment on the grounds that it has conducted a reasonable search for the documents requested in Plaintiff's FOIA request and produced the documents located as a result of that search. Plaintiff's response shall be due September 28, 2018. Defendant's reply shall be due October 12, 2018. (Parker, Katharine) (Entered: 08/02/2018)
2018-08-02Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker: Telephone Conference held on 8/2/2018. (ca) (Entered: 08/02/2018)
2018-09-1437MOTION for Summary Judgment . Document filed by Social Security Administration.(Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 09/14/2018)
2018-09-1438DECLARATION of Raymond Egan in Support re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Social Security Administration. (Attachments: # 1 Ex1, # 2 Ex2, # 3 Ex3, # 4 Ex4)(Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 09/14/2018)
2018-09-1439MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Social Security Administration. (Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 09/14/2018)
2018-09-2840MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Opposition re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Omel McLean. (Baker, James) (Entered: 09/28/2018)
2018-09-2841AFFIRMATION of James M. Baker in Opposition re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Omel McLean. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit letter, # 2 Exhibit letter, # 3 Exhibit letter, # 4 Exhibit email text)(Baker, James) (Entered: 09/28/2018)
2018-09-2842AFFIRMATION of Omel McLean, Jr. in Opposition re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Omel McLean. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit court document, # 2 Exhibit SSA record, # 3 Exhibit SSA record, # 4 Exhibit SSA record, # 5 Exhibit SSA record, # 6 Exhibit SSA record, # 7 Exhibit SSA record)(Baker, James) (Entered: 09/28/2018)
2018-10-1243REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Social Security Administration. (Pantoja, Joseph) (Entered: 10/12/2018)
2018-10-1644LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker from James M. Baker dated 10/16/2018 re: Permission to File Sur-Reply. Document filed by Omel McLean.(Baker, James) (Entered: 10/16/2018)
2018-10-1845MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 44 Letter For Permission to File Sur-Reply, filed by Omel McLean. ENDORSEMENT: Application Granted. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 10/18/18) (yv) (Entered: 10/18/2018)
2018-10-2646REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Opposition re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Omel McLean. (Baker, James) (Entered: 10/26/2018)
2018-12-2747STANDING ORDER M10-468: The United States Attorney's Office shall notify the Court immediately upon the restoration of Department of Justice funding. (As further set forth in this Order.) (Signed by Judge Colleen McMahon on 12/27/2018) (rjm) (Entered: 01/02/2019)
2018-12-27Case Stayed. (rjm) (Entered: 01/14/2019)
2019-01-0248REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re: 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment . filed by Social Security Administration. This Court respectfully recommends that Defendant's motion for summary judgment be GRANTED. Respectfully submitted. (Objections to R&R due by 1/16/2019) (Signed by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on 1/2/19) (yv) (Entered: 01/02/2019)
2019-01-0349Vacated as per Judge's Order dated 1/4/2019, Doc. # 50 ORDER: The Clerk is directed to place the above-captioned case on suspense pending Second Circuit decision. (Signed by Judge Colleen McMahon on 1/3/2019) (mml) Modified on 1/4/2019 (mml). (Entered: 01/03/2019)
2019-01-0450ORDER: It is hereby ordered that the above entitled action be placed on the court's active docket as it was placed on suspense in error. The Clerk is directed to vacate the order at docket #49 filed on 1/3/2019. (Signed by Judge Colleen McMahon on 1/4/2019) (mml) (Entered: 01/04/2019)
2019-03-0651MEMO ENDORSED ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION for 48 Report and Recommendation. ENDORSEMENT: No objection having been filed to this report and the time for filing has passed. After review, the Court adopts the Report as its opinion, follows the Recommendation and grants the SSA's motion. Enter judgment dismissing case. (Signed by Judge Colleen McMahon on 3/6/2019) (mml) Transmission to Orders and Judgments Clerk for processing. (Main Document 51 replaced on 3/6/2019) (mml). (Entered: 03/06/2019)
2019-03-0752CLERK'S JUDGMENT re: 51 Order Adopting Report and Recommendations. in favor of Social Security Administration against Omel McLean. It is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: That for the reasons stated in the Court's Memo-Endorsed Order dated March 6, 2019, no objections having been filed to the report and time for filing has passed; after review, the Report is adopted as the Court's Opinion, follows the Recommendation, SSA's motion is granted and the case is dismissed. (Signed by Clerk of Court Ruby Krajick on 03/07/2019) (Attachments: # 1 Notice of Right to Appeal)(dt) (Entered: 03/07/2019)
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