FOIA Activity: 16 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 16 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between September 19, 2021 and September 25, 2021. These are associated with 15 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. CAN 3:2019cv00290 — American Civil Liberties Union Foundation et al v. Department of Justice et al

   • September 22, 2021: ORDER by Judge Edward M. Chen Granting in Part and Denying in Part [98] 108 Cross-Motions for Partial Summary Judgment. (emcsec, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/22/2021)
2. CAN 4:2018cv00394 — Ecological Rights Foundation v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

   • September 22, 2021: ORDER (AS MODIFIED) granting [120] Stipulation to continue: Parties shall file an updated further Case Management Statement regarding the issue of fees and costs by 10/27/2021. Further Case Management Conference is continued to 11/3/2021 01:30 PM in Oakland, – Videoconference Only. This proceeding will be held via a Zoom webinar. Webinar Access: All counsel, members of the public, and media may access the webinar information at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/dmr General Order 58. Persons granted access to court proceedings held by telephone or videoconference are reminded that photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings, including screenshots or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited. Zoom Guidance and Setup: https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/zoom/. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu on 9/22/2021. (ig, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/22/2021)
3. CAN 4:2021cv02632 — American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California et al v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al

   • September 23, 2021: ORDER (AS MODIFIED) granting [29] Stipulation continuing Further Case Management Conference: Parties shall submit an updated Joint Case Management Statement by 10/13/2021. Further Case Management Conference is continued to 10/20/2021 01:30 PM in Oakland, – Videoconference Only before Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu. This proceeding will be held via a Zoom webinar. Webinar Access: All counsel, members of the public, and media may access the webinar information at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/dmr General Order 58. Persons granted access to court proceedings held by telephone or videoconference are reminded that photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings, including screenshots or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited. Zoom Guidance and Setup: https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/zoom/. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu on 9/23/2021. (ig, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/23/2021)
4. DC 1:2016cv01823 — WATERMAN v. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

   • September 20, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 9/20/2021. (lcrjl1)
5. DC 1:2018cv01368 — TOBIAS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

   • September 20, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 20, 2021. (lccjn3)
6. DC 1:2019cv01783 — CARDONA v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al

   • September 22, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION accompanying the final order issued separately this day. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 9/22/2021.(psu1)
7. DC 1:2020cv00214 — BRAGG v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

   • September 21, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION accompanying the final order issued separately this day. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 9/21/2021.(psu1)
8. DC 1:2020cv02580 — AMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

   • September 23, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION: denying [14] Defendant's Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment; and granting in part and denying in part [19] Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 09/23/2021. (lcrc2)
9. DC 1:2021cv00871 — CAMPO et al v. UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

   • September 24, 2021: ORDER denying [5] Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. See attached Order for further details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 09/24/2021. (lcapm3)
10. DC 1:2021cv01247 — ENERGY POLICY ADVOCATES v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

    • September 22, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re [21] Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge James E. Boasberg on 9/22/2021. (lcjeb1)
11. FLS 1:2019cv23452 — Villanueva v. United States Department of Justice et al

    • September 23, 2021: ORDER ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re DE# [55] is ADOPTED in full. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment DE# [34] is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART as set forth in the Report. Defendants' Cross Motion for Summary Judgment DE# [41] is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART as set forth in the Report. Certificate of Appealability: No Ruling. Signed by Judge Aileen M. Cannon on 9/23/2021. See attached document for full details. (ebz)
12. MD 8:2020cv00494 — Lewis v. Department of the Treasury et al

    • September 21, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Theodore D. Chuang on 9/21/2021. (c/m 9/21/2021 – dg3s, Deputy Clerk)
13. MOW 4:2017cv01037 — Sheppard v. United States Department of Justice

    • September 21, 2021: ORDER entered by Judge Nanette K. Laughrey. After review of the parties' respective arguments in favor of summary judgment (Doc. 17; Doc. 27), the court GRANTS summary judgment in part to each party. The Department of Justice shall produce all documents required by this Order on or before November 22, 2021. Signed on 9/21/2021 by District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey. (Gassen, Austin)
    • September 21, 2021: ORDER entered by Judge Nanette K. Laughrey. Mr. Sheppard's [86] Motion for Attorney's Fees and Sanctions is hereby GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Mr. Sheppard shall file a calculation of his reasonable attorney's fees and costs and supporting materials on or before October 6, 2021. The DOJ shall file a response to that request on or before October 20, 2021. Signed on 9/21/2021 by District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey. (Gassen, Austin)
14. NYS 1:2020cv02761 — Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention et al

    • September 22, 2021: ORDER granting [55] Letter Motion to Stay re: [55] LETTER MOTION to Stay re: [54] Order on Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, Order on Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court's disclosure rulings to allow time to determine whether to appeal addressed to Judge Analisa. GRANTED. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Analisa Torres on 9/22/2021) (kv)
15. OHS 1:2020cv00758 — The Cincinnati Enquirer v. Department of Justice et al

    • September 20, 2021: Supplement to the Amended Summary Judgment Order. The Court holds that all of the responsive documents are exempt from disclosure under FOIA Exemption 7(C), 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7)(C). The case is dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge Susan J. Dlott on 9/20/2021. (wam)