FOIA Activity: 15 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

We have added 15 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between February 11, 2024 and February 17, 2024. These are associated with 13 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 1:2021cv02021 — AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY FOUNDATION v. CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES

   • February 13, 2024: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 13, 2024. (lccjn1)
2. DC 1:2021cv02894 — US INVENTOR, INC. v. UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

   • February 16, 2024: MEMORANDUM OPINION re [13] Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment and [19] Defendant's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 2/16/24. (lce)
3. DC 1:2022cv03420 — INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY RESEARCH v. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

   • February 12, 2024: MEMORANDUM OPINION regarding defendant's [19] Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on February 12, 2024. (lcbah1)
4. DC 1:2023cv00191 — GEDDIS v. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

   • February 16, 2024: MEMORANDUM OPINION CONVERTING Defendant's [11] Motion to Dismiss into a Motion for Summary Judgment, and GRANTING the Motion, entering judgment on behalf of Defendant. An accompanying [20] Order is issued contemporaneously. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 2/16/2024. (psu3)
5. DC 1:2023cv00340 — PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST v. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

   • February 16, 2024: MEMORANDUM OPINION re: Motion [15] for Attorney's Fees. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 2/16/2024. (lcrcl2)
6. NYS 1:2019cv05881 — Adhikaar et al v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al

   • February 15, 2024: ORDER: In the Court's order dated November 16, 2023, Dkt. No. 82, the parties were directed to submit a joint status letter to the Court no later than February 14, 2024. The Court has not received the joint status letter. The parties are directed to comply with the Court's November 16, 2023 order forthwith and in any event no later than February 21, 2023. (Signed by Judge Gregory H. Woods on 2/15/2024) (rro)
7. NYS 1:2021cv02166 — Bonner v. Federal Bureau Of Investigation et al

   • February 16, 2024: ORDER granting [84] Letter Motion for Extension of Time to File. GRANTED. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer on 2/16/2024) (tg)
8. NYS 1:2023cv07003 — CBS Broadcasting Inc. v. U.S. Department of Justice et al

   • February 12, 2024: ORDER: The conference scheduled for Courtroom 519 for February 13, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. is changed to a telephone conference. At the above date and time, the parties shall dial 646-453-4442 and use access code: 702 148 003#. The Court will record th e proceeding for purposes of transcription in the event a transcript is ordered. However, any other recording or dissemination of the proceeding in any form is forbidden. When addressing the Court, counsel must not use a speakerphone. As further set forth in the Order. ( Telephone Conference set for 2/13/2024 at 03:30 PM before Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein.) (Signed by Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on 2/12/2024) (cf)
9. NYS 1:2023cv07045 — Maritime Legal Solutions, PLLC v. U.S. Transportation Command

   • February 15, 2024: ORDER granting [17] Letter Motion to Adjourn Conference. Applicaton GRANTED. The initial pre-trial conference scheduled for February 22, 2024, is hereby ADJOURNED to April 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. The conference will be telephonic, and the Court will provide dial-in information on the docket in advance of the proceeding. The parties shall file their pre-conference submissions on or before April 4, 2024. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the pending motion at docket number 17. Initial Conference set for 4/10/2024 at 10:00 AM before Judge Katherine Polk Failla. (Signed by Judge Katherine Polk Failla on 2/15/2024) (rro)
10. NYS 1:2023cv10922 — The Intercept Media, Inc. et al v. National Park Service et al

    • February 16, 2024: ORDER: Per the Court's correspondence with counsel, the Court reschedules the initial pretrial conference in this case to 3:30 p.m. today. Dial-in information remains the same as in the Court's prior order. SO ORDERED. ( Initial Conference set for 2/16/2024 at 03:30 PM before Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.) (Signed by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer on 2/16/2024) (va)
    • February 16, 2024: ORDER: Per the Court's discussion with counsel at today's initial pretrial conference, the Court sets the following deadlines: March 15, 2024: The Government must provide plaintiffs a draft Vaughn index. See Vaughn v. Rosen, 484 F.2d 820 (D.C. Cir. 1973). April 15, 2024: Joint letter due as to whether summary judgment and/or discovery will be necessary in this case, and, if so, proposing a discovery and/or briefing schedule. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer on 2/16/2024) (mml)
11. NYS 1:2024cv00986 — Kourani v. Department of Justice

    • February 14, 2024: ORDER OF DISMISSAL The Court dismisses this action without prejudice to Plaintiff's action pending under docket number 24-CV-0857 (LTS). The Court directs the Clerk of Court not to charge Plaintiff the $350.00 filing fee for this action. The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444- 45 (1962). The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment dismissing this action without prejudice to Plaintiff's action pending under docket number 24-CV-0857 (LTS).SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 2/14/2024) (jca) Transmission to Finance Unit (Cashiers) for processing.
    • February 14, 2024: CIVIL JUDGMENT For the reasons stated in the February 12, 2024, order, this action is dismissed. The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from the Court's judgment would not be taken in good faith. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 2/14/2024) (jca)
12. SD 5:2020cv05034 — Black Hills Clean Water Alliance v. United States Forest Service et al

    • February 14, 2024: MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER granting [60] Motion for Attorney Fees; denying as moot [61] Motion to Extend; denying as moot [66] Motion to Extend.. Signed by U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol on 02/13/2024. (KLE)
13. SD 5:2021cv05072 — Black Hills Clean Water Alliance v. U.S. Forest Service et al

    • February 14, 2024: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER denying [61] Motion for Attorney Fees; denying as moot [62] Motion to Extend; denying as moot [67] Motion to Extend. Signed by U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol on 2/13/24. (SKK)