BuzzFeed Inc. v. U.S. Department Of Justice and 7 other new FOIA lawsuits, plus case descriptions

We have added 51 documents from 7 FOIA cases filed between September 5, 2021 and September 11, 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. BuzzFeed Inc. v. U.S. Department Of Justice (filed Sep 9, 2021)
   BuzzFeed submitted a FOIA request to the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Justice for records concerning a full copy of the investigative summary published on OIG’s website pertaining to findings of misconduct by a former DOJ executive officer for making inappropriate comments constituting sexual harassment. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency disclosed 15 pages with redactions under Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy) and Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records). BuzzFeed filed an administrative appeal of the redactions. The agency upheld its original denial. BuzzFeed then filed suit.
   Issues: Litigation – Attorney’s fees
2. LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (filed Sep 7, 2021)
   The Louise Trauma Center, which advocates on behalf of immigrant women who have suffered gender-based violence submitted 11 FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning s variety of topics. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Louise Trauma Center filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
3. STAHL v. DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (filed Sep 9, 2021)
   Aviva Stahl, a free-lance journalist, submitted a FOIA request to the Defense Intelligence Agency for records concerning the interrogation of detainee Ali al-Marri by DIA agents. She also requested expedited processing. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Stahl filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
4. REED SMITH LLP v. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (filed Sep 10, 2021)
   The law firm of Reed Smith LLP submitted a FOIA request to the FDA for records concerning communications between the FDA and the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee pertaining to (a) nicotinamide adeline dinucleotide or (b) the criteria used to determine whether bulk drugs should appear on the list pursuant to 503A(b)(1)(A)(i)(III). The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Reed Smith filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
5. Urban Justice Center et al v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (filed Sep 10, 2021)
   The Urban Justice Center and ASISTA Immigration Center submitted FOIA requests to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for records concerning training for USCIS employees on how to recognize whether a pending Form I-918 and or Form I-918A are bona fide. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Urban Justice Center filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
6. PROJECT FOR PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, INC. v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (filed Sep 7, 2021)
   The Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning correspondence between a list of Senators and House members and any agency concerning the unmasking of congressmen. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency then issued a Glomar response neither confirm nor denying the existence of records. PPSA filed an administrative appeal but after hearing nothing further from the agency, PPSA filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
7. Maersk Line, Limited v. United States Coast Guard (filed Sep 9, 2021)
   Maersk Line Limited submitted several FOIA requests to U.S. Coast Guard for records. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. After Maersk Line contacted the agency for a status update, the agency indicated it could not begin processing the requests for another six months. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Maersk Line filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees

In addition, we have added 1 document from 1 case, with an earlier filing date, that has recently appeared on PACER.

• Morris v. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms et al (filed Aug 30, 2021)