FOIA Activity: 11 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 11 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between January 10, 2021 and January 16, 2021. 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 1:2019cv00778 — CAUSE OF ACTION INSTITUTE v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
   • January 14, 2021: MEMORANDUM AND OPINION. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 14, 2021. (lccjn1)
2. DC 1:2019cv03192 — LEOPOLD et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
   • January 13, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION denying [15] Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment; denying [17] Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment. See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 1/13/2021. (lcrc3)
3. MD 8:2019cv01511 — Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
   • January 13, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan on 1/13/2021. (jf3s, Deputy Clerk)
4. NYS 1:2018cv11503 — Human Rights Watch v. U.S. Central Command et al
   • January 11, 2021: ORDER granting [37] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference. The parties’ requests to both adjourn the initial pretrial conference scheduled for January 13, 2021, and to not require the parties to submit a civil case discovery plan and scheduling order are granted. The parties are directed to provide the Court with a status update regarding Defendants’ productions every two months. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 1/11/2021) (rro)
5. NYS 1:2019cv01574 — The Innocence Project, Inc. v. National Museum of Health and Medicine et al
   • January 11, 2021: ORDER granting [76] Letter Motion for Extension of Time to File. The request for an extension of time to file the status report nunc pro tunc is GRANTED. The parties shall file a further status report on or before April 9, 2021. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Alison J. Nathan on 1/11/21) (yv)
6. NYS 1:2020cv03063 — The New York Times Company v. Department of Health and Human Services
   • January 13, 2021: OPINION AND ORDER re: [22] CROSS MOTION for Summary Judgment. filed by The New York Times Company, Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Christopher Weaver, [19] MOTION for Summary Judgment. filed by Department of Health and Huma n Services. For the foregoing reasons, HHS’s motion for summary judgment (Docket # 19) is denied and plaintiffs’ cross-motion (Docket # 22) is granted. HHS shall produce the Report within 14 days, with only redactions pursuant to Exemption 6 permitted. (As further set forth in this Order.) (Signed by Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on 1/13/2021) (cf) Transmission to Orders and Judgments Clerk for processing.
7. NYS 1:2020cv06177 — Informed Consent Action Network v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   • January 14, 2021: ORDER granting [14] Letter Motion for Extension of Time to File. Application granted. SO ORDERED. (nb)
8. NYS 1:2020cv07510 — Charpentier et al v. Department Of Homeland Security et al
   • January 11, 2021: ORDER granting [29] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference. Application granted. The initial pretrial conference scheduled for January 20, 2021 is adjourned to February 3, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The joint letter and proposed case management pl an described in the Court’s September 16, 2020 order, Dkt. No. 9, are due no later than January 27, 2021. Initial Conference set for 2/3/2021 at 01:00 PM before Judge Gregory H. Woods. (Signed by Judge Gregory H. Woods on 1/11/2021) (mro)
9. OR 1:2019cv00766 — Evans et al v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
   • January 12, 2021: ORDER: The Court adopts the F&R [64] in its entirety. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Attorney Fees [39] and Supplemental Motion for Attorney Fees [57] are granted. The Plaintiffs shall be awarded $59,793.50 in attorney fees and costs. Signed on 1/12/2021 by Judge Ann L. Aiken. (ck)
10. PAW 2:2020cv00971 — DEGENS v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
    • January 14, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re [34] MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM or in the Alternative MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by DAVID M. HARDY, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION. In accordance with the foregoing opinion, Defendants motion to dismiss this case [34] will be GRANTED. The complaint will be dismissed with prejudice and without leave to amend and this case will be marked closed. All other pending motions (ECF Nos. 23, 24, 25) will be DENIED AS MOOT. Details more fully stated in the opinion. An appropriate Order will be entered. Signed by Judge Joy Flowers Conti on 1/14/21. (cjo)
11. TXW 3:2019cv00279 — Moore v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, et al.
    • January 12, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER; IT IS ORDERED that CBPs Motion for Open America Stay and Extension of Finite Production Schedule (ECF No. 59) is HEREBY GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART; ( Evidentiary Hearing set for 3/2/2021 09:00 AM via Zoom before Judge David C Guaderrama,). Further directives incorporated in this Order. Signed by Judge David C Guaderrama. (em)