CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY v. US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al and 6 other new FOIA lawsuits

We have added 48 documents from 7 FOIA cases filed between January 10, 2021 and January 16, 2021. 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. CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY v. US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al (filed Jan 15, 2021)
   The Center for Democracy and Technology submitted three FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning the monitoring of social media by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agencies, CDT filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Choice of format
2. CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON v. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION et al (filed Jan 14, 2021)
   Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington submitted two FOIA requests to the Centers for Disease Control for records concerning communications from the Trump administration pertaining to the collection of covid-19 information by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. CREW also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, CREW filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
3. MAERSK LINE, LIMITED v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (filed Jan 14, 2021)
   Maersk Line, Limited submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning requests for foreign flag waivers for General Services Administration Household Good Tender of Service. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but did not respond until 99 days later invoking unusual circumstances. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Maersk Line filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
4. Rich v. Office of Biometric Identity Management et al (filed Jan 13, 2021)
   Katherine Rich, an attorney, submitted a FOIA request to the Office of Biometric Identity, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, for records concerning her client. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Rich filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
5. LASHERAS v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al (filed Jan 12, 2021)
   John Lasheras submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning his request to the FBI to conduct an investigation of his wife’s alleged sex trafficking on Facebook and Plantir Technologies. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told Lasheras that they had not conducted the requested investigation. Lasheras then filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit
6. Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment v. Federal Rail Administration (filed Jan 14, 2021)
7. Pomares v. United States Department of Veterans Affairs (filed Jan 15, 2021)
   Maria Pomares submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The first request was for emails from certain domain names. The second request was for records concerning FOIA requests concerning certain schools. The agency acknowledged both requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Pomares filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees