FOIA Activity: 12 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 12 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between January 3, 2021 and January 9, 2021. 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. DC 1:2017cv00918 — MONTGOMERY et al v. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
   • January 5, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re [109] Order on Motions for Partial Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge James E. Boasberg on 1/5/2021. (lcjeb1)
2. DC 1:2019cv03828 — BALLOW v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
   • January 5, 2021: MEMORANDUM AND OPINION. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/5/21. (psu2)
3. NYS 1:2019cv00234 — Open Society Justice Initiative v. Central Intelligence Agency et al
   • January 6, 2021: ORDER: The Court has received the Government’s motion for partial reconsideration of the Court’s December 8, 2020 Opinion. Plaintiff’s response is due January 21, 2021. And defendants’ reply is due February 4, 2021. Althoug h defendants do not have a right to come forward with additional evidence after the Court has issued its Opinion, the Court, in considering the motion for partial reconsideration, will examine the two supplemental classified declarations that the defendants have submitted in camera. SO ORDERED. (Responses due by 1/21/2021, Replies due by 2/4/2021.) (Signed by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer on 1/6/2021) (jca)
4. NYS 1:2019cv05779 — The New York Times Company et al v. Department of Defense
   • January 5, 2021: ORDER: This Court will hear oral argument on Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, (ECF No. 39), and Plaintiffs’ Cross Motion for Summary Judgment, (ECF No. 46), on April 8, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. (Oral Argument set for 4/8/2021 at 10:30 AM before Judge George B. Daniels.) (Signed by Judge George B. Daniels on 1/5/2021) (jwh)
5. NYS 1:2019cv09669 — New York Times Company et al v. Department of the Treasury
   • January 8, 2021: ORDER granting [38] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference. GRANTED. The initial pretrial conference scheduled for January 13, 2021, is ADJOURNED to February 22, 2021, at 10:40 a.m. By February 15, 2021, the parties shall file a joint status letter. SO ORDERED.. (Signed by Judge Analisa Torres on 1/8/2021) Initial Conference set for 2/22/2021 at 10:40 AM before Judge Analisa Torres. (ks)
6. NYS 1:2020cv07510 — Charpentier et al v. Department Of Homeland Security et al
   • January 6, 2021: ORDER granting [27] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference. Application granted. The initial pretrial conference scheduled for January 12, 2021 is adjourned to January 20, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. The joint letter and proposed case management plan describe d in the Court’s September 16, 2020 order, Dkt. No. 9, are due no later than January 13, 2021. SO ORDERED. (Initial Conference set for 1/20/2021 at 04:00 PM before Judge Gregory H. Woods.) (Signed by Judge Gregory H. Woods on 1/6/2021) (rro)
7. NYS 1:2020cv07896 — Insider Inc. et al v. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
   • January 6, 2021: ORDER: The conference currently scheduled for January 14, 2021 at 10:45 a.m. will take place by telephone. The parties are directed to dial 888-363-4749 to participate, and to enter the access code 6212642. The press and public may obtain access to the telephone conference by dialing the same number and using the same access code. The Court is holding multiple telephone conferences on this date. The parties should call in at the scheduled time and wait on the line for their case to be ca lled. At that time, the Court will un-mute the parties lines. Seven days before the conference, the parties must email Michael_Ruocco@nysd.uscourts.gov and GardepheNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov with the phone numbers that the parties will be using to dial into the conference so that the Court knows which numbers to un-mute. The email should include the case name and case number in the subject line. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Paul G. Gardephe on 1/6/2021) (jca)
8. TXN 3:2020cv02744 — McCall v. Flagship Credit Acceptance
   • January 4, 2021: ORDER Adopting [7] Findings and Recommendations. Plaintiff’s complaint is hereby DISMISSED under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment is DENIED. (Ordered by Senior Judge Sam R Cummings on 1/4/2021) (oyh)
9. WAW 2:2019cv01051 — Northwest Environmental Advocates v. US Environmental Protection Agency
   • January 5, 2021: ORDER re Parties’ [24] Stipulated Motion and Joint Status Report regarding Fee Petition Deadline. Plaintiff Northwest Environmental Advocates shall file a motion for costs and attorneys’ fees on or before February 19, 2021. Signed by Judge James L. Robart. (LH)
10. WAW 2:2020cv01220 — Rich v. Executive Office of Immigration Review
    • January 6, 2021: ORDER denying Plaintiff’s [5] Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by Hon. Michelle L. Peterson.(MW)
11. WAW 2:2020cv01364 — State of Washington v. Public Buildings Reform Board
    • January 5, 2021: ORDER granting Plaintiff’s [12] Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff’s request for an award of attorney’s fees is premature. Once production occurs and all disputes regarding the scope of the production and any claimed exemptions are resolved, the fee issue may be raised again in a separate motion. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik. (LH)
12. WVN 5:2020cv00243 — Schumacher v. Triad Adoption Inc.
    • January 5, 2021: ORDER ADOPTING [3] REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION: the [1] Complaint is hereby DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE and the [2] Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis is hereby DENIED AS MOOT. The Court ORDERS that this matter be STRICKEN from the ac tive docket of this Court and DIRECTS the Clerk to enter judgment in favor of defendant. Signed by District Judge John Preston Bailey on 1/5/2021. (copy to pro se plaintiff via cm,rrr) (nmm) (Additional attachment(s) added on 1/5/2021: # 1 Certified Mail Return Receipt) (nmm).