FOIA Activity: 10 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 10 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between October 17, 2021 and October 23, 2021. These are associated with 9 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 1:2018cv00155 — REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS v. UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION et al

   • October 18, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re Defendant's [59] Motion for Summary Judgment and Plaintiff's [60] Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/18/2021. (lctnm2)
2. DC 1:2019cv01230 — BALL v. UNITED STATES MARSHAL SERVICE et al

   • October 19, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re. Order [57] on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge James E. Boasberg on 10/19/2021. (lcjeb2)
3. DC 1:2021cv01049 — COLE v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al

   • October 18, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION accompanying the final order issued separately this day. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/18/2021.(psu1)
4. FLS 1:2021cv23536 — Maldonado-Aviles v. Executive Office for Immigration Review et al

   • October 20, 2021: ORDER denying [3] Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 10/19/2021. See attached document for full details. (mmd)
5. NV 3:2021cv00347 — Center for Biological Diversity v. Bureau Of Land Management

   • October 21, 2021: ORDER to File Case Management Report – The parties shall meet and confer on items required to be included in the Joint Case Management Report. After the meet and confer, the parties shall file a Joint Case Management Report by no later than Novemb er 29, 2021. The Case Management Report shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages and shall not include any attached exhibits. Should counsel or a party fail to comply with the directions as set forth in this order, an ex parte hearing ma y be held and contempt sanctions, including monetary sanctions, dismissal, default, or other appropriate judgment, may be imposed and/or ordered. See order for additional details. Signed by Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin on 10/21/2021. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF – SC)
6. NYS 1:2017cv10084 — Ramaci v. Federal Bureau Of Investigation

   • October 20, 2021: OPINION & ORDER re: [28] MOTION for Summary Judgment. filed by Federal Bureau Of Investigation, [33] CROSS MOTION for Summary Judgment. filed by Lisa Ramaci. The Court is sympathetic to Plaintiff and her quest to learn a s much as she can about the circumstances surrounding the horrific murder of her husband. In this case, however, the law is on the Government's side, as the FBI has adequately demonstrated the basis for its inferences that the sources here p rovided information with an implied assurance of confidentiality. Accordingly, the FBI's motion for summary judgment is granted, and Plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment is denied. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the motions pending at Dkts. 28 and 33, to enter judgment in favor of the FBI, to lift the stay, and to close this case. SO ORDERED. Case Stay Lifted. (Signed by Judge Ronnie Abrams on 10/20/2021) (ate) Transmission to Orders and Judgments Clerk for processing.
   • October 20, 2021: CLERK'S JUDGMENT re: [61] Memorandum & Opinion in favor of Federal Bureau Of Investigation against Lisa Ramaci. It is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: That for the reasons stated in the Court's Opinion & Order dated October 20, 2 021, the Court is sympathetic to Plaintiff and her quest to learn as much as she can about the circumstances surrounding the horrific murder of her husband. In this case, however, the law is on the Government's side, as the FBI has adequately demonstrated the basis for its inferences that the sources here provided information with an implied assurance of confidentiality. Accordingly, the FBI's motion for summary judgment is granted, and Plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment is denied. Judgment is entered in favor of the FBI; accordingly, the case is closed. (Signed by Clerk of Court Ruby Krajick on 10/20/2021) (Attachments: # 1 Right to Appeal) (km)
7. NYS 1:2019cv05483 — American Civil Liberties Union et al v. United States Department Of Justice et al

   • October 22, 2021: ORDER granting [57] Letter Motion to Stay re: [57] LETTER MOTION to Stay addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Sarah Hinger and Amy Belsher dated 10/21/2021. Granted. So Ordered. (Signed by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil on 10/22/2021) (js)
8. NYS 1:2020cv05096 — Open Society Justice Initiative v. Department of Defense et al

   • October 22, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. For the reasons stated above and in the Court's July 15, 2021 Opinion and Order, the CIA's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in full and OSJI's cross-motion for summary judgment is DENIED in full. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Jesse M. Furman on 10/22/21) (yv) Transmission to Orders and Judgments Clerk for processing.
9. WAW 2:2020cv01648 — Friends of Discovery Park v. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

   • October 19, 2021: MINUTE ORDER: Pursuant to the parties' Joint Status Report, docket no. [12] , the parties are DIRECTED to file an additional Joint Status Report by 1/18/2022. This, however, is the parties' fourth request for 90 days to provide the Court with a status update and the Court will not grant any further requests without good cause. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (MW)