FOIA Activity: 11 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 11 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between September 27, 2020 and October 3, 2020. These are associated with 11 FOIA cases pending in federal district court. Note that because there can be delays between the date a decision is made and when it shows up on PACER, this listing includes only decisions that appeared on PACER during this period.

Click on the date to view the full text of the decision. Click on a case title below to view other details for that case, including links to the docket report and complaint.

1. DC 1:2014cv02156 — STOTTER v. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT et al

   • October 3, 2020: MEMORANDUM OPINION, granting in part and denying in part Defendant's [17] Motion for Summary Judgment, and denying Plaintiff's [21] Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 10/03/2020. (lckbj2)
2. DC 1:2017cv02448 — NATIONAL IMMIGRATION PROJECT OF THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD et al v. IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

   • September 29, 2020: MEMORANDUM OPINION re: Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. [32] and Plaintiffs' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. [34] Please see the attached Memorandum Opinion for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 9/29/2020. (lcapm1)
3. DC 1:2019cv00800 — JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

   • September 29, 2020: MEMORANDUM AND OPINION regarding [27] Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and [29] Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 9/29/2020. (lcsd)
4. DC 1:2019cv00810 — ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

   • September 30, 2020: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on September 30, 2020. (lcrbw1)
5. NYS 1:2017cv09343 — Freedom of the Press Foundation et al v. Department of Justice et al

   • September 28, 2020: ORDER: As discussed at today's conference, the government shall submit, by Wednesday, September 30, a sworn declaration from Mr. Seidel stating, with respect to the records described in paragraph 19 of his prior declaration, ECF No. 47, that is such responsive records existed, they would have been known to the subject matter expert and others consulted. If the plaintiffs wish to reply, such reply must be submitted the following day. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge John G. Koeltl on 9/28/2020) (va)
6. NYS 1:2017cv09972 — American Civil Liberties Union et al v. Department of Defense et al

   • September 29, 2020: ORDER granting [32] Motion for Partial Summary Judgment; denying [28] Motion for Summary Judgment. For the reasons set forth in a Memorandum Opinion to be filed separately, the defendants' motions for summary judgment are DENIED and the plaintiffs' cross-motions for summary judgment are GRANTED. The defendants are ORDERED to confirm or deny the existence of records responsive to the plaintiffs' FOIA requests. The parties are further directed to submit, by Nove mber 1, 2020, a schedule for the defendants' compliance with this Order and the further disposition of this case. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the following motions: Docs. 28 and 32 in 17 Civ. 9972, and Docs. 13 and 17 in 20 Civ. 43. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 9/29/2020) (mro)
7. NYS 1:2019cv00903 — American Civil Liberties Union v. Department of Health and Human Services

   • September 28, 2020: ORDER granting [18] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference: The parties' request is granted. The initial pretrial conference is adjourned until March 5, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. The parties are also directed to submit a status report to the Court on February 22, 2021. (Initial Conference set for 3/5/2021 at 11:30 AM before Judge Edgardo Ramos.) (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 9/28/2020) (jwh)
8. NYS 1:2020cv00043 — The New York Times Company v. Department of Defense

   • September 29, 2020: ORDER denying [13] Motion for Summary Judgment; granting [17] Motion for Summary Judgment. For the reasons set forth in a Memorandum Opinion to be filed separately, the defendants' motions for summary judgment are DENIED and the plaint iffs' cross-motions for summary judgment are GRANTED. The defendants are ORDERED to confirm or deny the existence of records responsive to the plaintiffs' FOIA requests. The parties are further directed to submit, by November 1, 20 20, a schedule for the defendants' compliance with this Order and the further disposition of this case. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the following motions: Docs. 28 and 32 in 17 Civ. 9972, and Docs. 13 and 17 in 20 Civ. 43. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 9/29/2020) (mro)
9. NYS 1:2020cv04011 — Lederman et al v. United States Department of State

   • September 28, 2020: ORDER: On August 4, 2020, the Court granted the parties' request for permission "to submit a status letter to the Court by September 15, 2020, in order to provide the Court with an update as to this matter and propose a further path fo rward for this action including any issues related to the Department's processing rate and Plaintiffs' prioritization request." (Dkt. 13.) As of September 28, 2020, the parties have not done so. Accordingly, the parties shall submi t such status letter no later than October 5, 2020. SO ORDERED. Copies transmitted this date to all counsel of record. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger on 9/28/2020) Copies transmitted by Chambers. (ks) Modified on 9/28/2020 (ks).
10. WAW 2:2019cv00887 — Northwest Environmental Advocates v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

    • October 1, 2020: ORDER granting Parties' [32] Stipulated Motion to Dismiss: This case is dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik.(MW)
11. WAW 2:2020cv00889 — Hua v. Eggleston et al

    • September 28, 2020: STIPULATED ORDER OF DISMISSAL re Parties' [17] Stipulated Motion: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this case is dismissed with prejudice and without an order for costs or fees to either party. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik. (LH)