WP COMPANY LLC v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al and 8 other new FOIA lawsuits, plus case descriptions

We have added 89 documents from 9 FOIA cases filed between May 31, 2020 and June 6, 2020. Note that there can be delays between the date a case is filed and when it shows up on PACER. If there are filings from this period that have yet to be posted on PACER, this FOIA Project list may not be complete.

Click on a case title below to view details for that case, including links to the associated docket and complaint documents.

1. WP COMPANY LLC v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al (filed Jun 5, 2020)
   The Washington Post submitted 11 FOIA requests to the U.S. Secret Service for records concerning costs incurred in protecting the Trump family or its properties. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. The Washington Post also submitted 8 FOIA requests to the Department of State for records concerning costs incurred by the agency in staying at various Trump international hotels. The agency acknowledged receipt of those requests. After hearing nothing further from either agency pertaining to any of the requests, the Washington Post filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
2. Huddleston v. Federal Bureau of Investigation (filed Jun 1, 2020)
   Brian Huddleston submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning Seth Rich or Aaron Rich. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Huddleston filed suit.
   Issues: Adequacy – Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Litigation – Vaughn index
3. Pangea Legal Services v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (filed Jun 1, 2020)
   Pangea Legal Services submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for records concerning a change in the agency’s policy and procedures for adjudicating I-730 Petitions. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Pangea Legal Services filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
4. TOBIAS v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (filed Jun 1, 2020)
   Journalist Jimmy Tobias submitted 13 FOIA requests to the Department of Interior for records concerning communications to and from senior officials at the agency pertaining to a number of issues, such as climate change and the agency’s response to the pandemic. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency pertaining to any of his requests, Tobias filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
5. STONEHILL v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (filed Jun 1, 2020)
   Pauline Stonehill, the co-executor of the estate of Harry Stonehill, submitted three FOIA requests to the FBI for records concerning the participation of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation in an investigation of Harry Stonehill that were located in response to a request from investigative journalist Bethany McLean. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency pertaining to any of her requests, Stonehill filed suit.
   Issues: Adequacy – Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Litigation – Vaughn index
6. Hooker v. Wilkie et al (filed Jun 1, 2020)
   Carlton Hooker submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Veterans Affairs for records concerning hiring decisions. The agency failed to respond to his requests and Hooker filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit
7. CITIZENS UNITED v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (filed Jun 2, 2020)
   Citizens United submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning communications between State Department official David Holmes and National Security Council staffer Eric Ciaramella. Citizens United also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told Citizens United that because its request qualified for unusual circumstances it would take more time to process. After hearing nothing
8. International Refugee Assistance Project, Inc. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (filed Jun 5, 2020)
   The International Refugee Assistance Project submitted FOIA requests to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for records concerning the application submitted by IRAP’s client, a citizen of Afghanistan, for resettlement in the United States. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told IRAP that all responsive records were at the State Department, although the State Department had previously told IRAP that responsive records were at USCIS. IRAP filed an administrative appeal, which was denied. IRAP then filed suit.
   Issues: Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
9. JAMES MADISON PROJECT et al v. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY et al (filed Jun 6, 2020)
   The James Madison Project and reporter Josh Gerstein submitted FOIA requests to the CIA, the other agencies that are part of the intelligence community for records concerning requests for unmasking the identities of U.S. citizens referenced in foreign intelligence reports. JMP and Gerstein also requested expedited processing. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from any of the agencies, JMP and Gerstein filed suit.
   Issues: Expedited processing, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees