Informed Consent Action Network v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention et al and 9 other new FOIA lawsuits

We have added 65 documents from 10 FOIA cases filed between December 26, 2021 and January 1, 2022. 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. Informed Consent Action Network v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention et al (filed Dec 28, 2021)
   Informed Consent Action Network submitted three FOIA requests to the Centers for Disease Control for records concerning v-safe. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, ICAN filed suit.
   Issues: Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Failure to respond within statutory time limit
2. Ammad Omar et al v. U. S. Department of Homeland Security et al (filed Dec 27, 2021)
   Ammad Omar, a producer for NPR, submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning white parrs pertaining to detention facility contracts. Omar also requested expedited processing and a fee waiver. After hearing nothing from the agency, Omar filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
3. WildEarth Guardians v. Bureau of Land Management (filed Dec 27, 2021)
   WildEarth Guardians submitted a FOIA request to the Bureau of Land Management for records concerning grazing permits for the Rio Puerco Resource Area. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, WildEarth Guardians filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
4. WOODBURY v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (filed Dec 30, 2021)
   Martin Woodbury submitted a FOIA request to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for records concerning its investigation of Tracy Worwood’s possession of military explosives. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied the request. Woodbury filed an administrative appeal. The agency affirmed its original denial. Woodbury then submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records on the investigation of Worwood. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and referred Woodbury to the denial by BATF. Woodbury filed an administrative appeal with the FBI. The FBI acknowledged receipt of the appeal, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Woodbury filed suit.
   Issues: Adequacy – Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
5. JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (filed Dec 31, 2021)
   Judicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the CIA for records concerning communications and/or meetings between former CIA director Gina Haspel and Gen. Mark Milley. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
6. JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (filed Dec 31, 2021)
   Judicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Defense for records concerning communications between Gen. Mark Milley and Chinese military officials as well as emails sent to or from Milley from Jan. 5 – Jan. 8, 2022. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
   Issues: Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Adequacy – Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Vaughn index
7. JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (filed Dec 31, 2021)
   Judicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning a memorandum issued by Attorney General Merrick Garland indicating the agency will protect school administrators from threats by extremists. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
8. JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (filed Dec 31, 2021)
   Judicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning payments to the Taliban to allow U.S. citizens or individuals authorized by the U.S. Government to come to the United States. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
9. JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (filed Dec 31, 2021)
   Judicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning the removal of any information about military equipment or training given to Afghani forces. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
10. ENERGY POLICY ADVOCATES v. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (filed Jan 1, 2022)
    Energy Policy Advocates submitted a FOIA request to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for records concerning onboarding documentation for a single political appointee. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, EPA filed suit.
    Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees