FOIA Activity: 12 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 12 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between December 13, 2020 and December 19, 2020. These are associated with 12 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. CAS 3:2020cv00990 — Voice of San Diego v. Federal Communications Commission et al

   • December 15, 2020: ORDER Vacating and Resetting Continued Status/Case Management Conference. By 1/14/2021 the parties shall file an updated joint status report with the Court. The status conference set for December 16, 2020 is VACATED and RESET for 1/21/2021 at 10:00 AM before Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes. Signed by Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes on 12/15/2020. (tcf)
2. NCE 5:2020cv00363 — Queern v. The United States

   • December 17, 2020: ORDER denying [19] Motion Motion for Expedited Consideration; denying [20] Motion [pursuant to] 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(1), 5 U.S.C. 504, 28 U.S.C. 2412;. Signed by District Judge Richard E. Myers II on 12/17/2020. (Waddell, K.)
3. NYE 1:2020cv05082 — Volovets v. Trump et al

   • December 18, 2020: MEMORANDUM & ORDER : Although Volovets paid the filing fee to commence this action, the complaint is dismissed. Accordingly, because granting leave to amend would be futile, and because Volovets's proposed amended complaint does not (an d cannot) cure any of the deficiencies identified in this Memorandum and Order, Volovets's [11] motion to amend the complaint and [13] request for a hearing are denied. The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appe al from this order would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of defendants, to mail a copy of the judgment and this Memorandum and Order to Volovets, to note that mailing on the docket sheet, and to close thiscase. SO ORDERED by Chief Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, on 12/18/2020. C/mailed. (Latka-Mucha, Wieslawa)
4. NYS 1:2019cv00385 — Junk v. Board Of Governors Of The Federal Reserve System.

   • December 16, 2020: JUDGMENT: It is hereby ORDERED: That for the reasons stated in the Court's Opinion and Order dated November 18, 2020, having considered the arguments made by the parties, Defendant's August 17, 2020 motion for summary judgment is grant ed, and Plaintiff's September 17, 2020 cross-motion to defer or deny Defendant's motion for summary judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d) is denied. Accordingly, the case is closed. (Signed by Judge Denise L. Cote on 12/16/2020) (jca)
5. NYS 1:2019cv09669 — New York Times Company et al v. Department of the Treasury

   • December 14, 2020: ORDER granting [36] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference. GRANTED. The initial pretrial conference scheduled for December 17, 2020, is ADJOURNED to January 13, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. By January 6, 2021, the parties shall file a joint status letter. SO ORDERED. Initial Conference set for 1/13/2021 at 11:00 AM before Judge Analisa Torres. (Signed by Judge Analisa Torres on 12/14/2020) (kv)
6. NYS 1:2020cv01453 — Informed Consent Action Network v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

   • December 14, 2020: ORDER: In light of the Stipulation and Order entered on November 23, 2020, by which the parties agreed to the voluntary dismissal of this matter with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), the Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to close this case. So Ordered. (Signed by Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr on 12/14/2020) (js)
7. NYS 1:2020cv05096 — Open Society Justice Initiative v. Department of Defense et al

   • December 15, 2020: ORDER: The Court acknowledges that this is an ambitious plan and will impose some burdens on Defendants. But these burdens must be carried to comply with Congress's goal of broad and timely disclosure. See Milner v. Dep't of Navy, 562 U.S. 562, 571 (2011). More broadly, Defendants blame their resistance to Plaintiffs proposed processing rates only in part on the COVID-19 pandemic; they also cite a dramatic rise in the number of FOIA requests over the last few years and insufficient res ources to meet those demands. See ECF No. 58, at 3. The Court does not doubt those numbers. But to the extent that the agencies lack the resources needed to satisfy the mandate that Congress has imposed on them, the answer is not for courts to roll o ver and deny plaintiffs the relief they seek under the law; instead, it is for the agencies to seek, and Congress to provide, the resources needed to actually comply with the law. And as set forth herein. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Jesse M. Furman on 12/15/2020) (ama)
8. TXN 3:2020cv00173 — Wright v. Federal Bureau of Investigation

   • December 14, 2020: ORDER [41] ACCEPTING FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE. (Ordered by Senior Judge A. Joe Fish on 12/14/2020) (twd)
9. VAW 3:2018cv00113 — Southern Environmental Law Center v. Council on Environmental Quality

   • December 14, 2020: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Senior Judge Glen E. Conrad on 12/14/2020. (dg)
10. WAW 2:2018cv01141 — The Human Rights Defense Center et al v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al

    • December 16, 2020: MINUTE ORDER granting Parties' [27] Stipulation and Joint Motion Regarding Case Status and Schedule: The trial date set for 4/26/2021, and all related deadlines, see docket no. [26] , are hereby STRICKEN. Any dispositive motions shall be filed on or before Thursday, 2/18/2021, and shall be noted on the motions calendar no later than the fourth Friday thereafter. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly.(MW)
11. WAW 2:2019cv00645 — National Parks Conservation Association v. US Department of the Navy

    • December 15, 2020: MINUTE ORDER re Plaintiff's [54] MOTION for Reconsideration. Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration, docket no. [54] , is DEFERRED and RENOTED to 1/8/2021. Defendant's response due 1/4/2021. Any reply due by 1/8/2021. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (PM)
12. WAW 2:2020cv00217 — Council on American Islamic Relations – Washington v. United States Customs and Border Protection et al

    • December 14, 2020: ORDER RE: DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR IN CAMERA REVIEW. The Court finds that portions of the documents were not properly withheld under Exemption 7(E) and orders their production to Plaintiff. These changes and production to Plaintiff are to be accomplished in the next 14 days. Signed by Judge Ricardo S. Martinez. (PM)