FOIA Activity: 15 New Procedural or Substantive Decisions

The FOIA Project includes decisions (opinions) filed in district court FOIA cases since FY 2001. Starting this week, we are providing a weekly digest of these decisions.

We have added 15 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between June 1, 2013 and June 15, 2013. These are associated with 14 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. CAC 5:2013cv00261 — Simmons v. Commissioner of Social Security
   • June 13, 2013: MINUTE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE: DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO PROSECUTE IN CHAMBERS by Judge Virginia A. Phillips re: Complaint – (Discovery), [1] The Court ORDERS Plaintiff to show cause, in writing, no later than June 24, 2013, why this matter should not be dismissed without prejudice for failure to prosecute. ( Response to Order to Show Cause due by 6/24/2013.) (mrgo)
2. CAE 1:2012cv00498 — Singh v. United States Department of Homeland Security
   • June 7, 2013: ORDER ADOPTING FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS That Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Be GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART [19] , [31] , [35] ; ORDER REGARDING Screening of Plaintiff’s Complaint [1] , signed by District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on 6/6/13: Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint, in compliance with this Order within 30 days. (Hellings, J)
3. CAN 3:2011cv00846 — The Sierra Club et al v. United States Environmental Protection Agency
   • June 3, 2013: ORDER GRANTING REQUEST FOR 45 DAY EXTENSION re [61] Status Report filed by The Sierra Club, Environmental Integrity Project, United States Environmental Protection Agency. Signed by Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James on 5/31/2013. (rmm2S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/3/2013)
4. CAN 4:2012cv01013 — First Amendment Coalition v. U.S. Department of Justice
   • June 3, 2013: ORDER by Judge Claudia Wilken SETTING A FURTHER SCHEDULE (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/3/2013)
5. DC 1:2009cv02173 — BOEHM v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
   • June 10, 2013: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 6/10/13. (lcabj1)
6. DC 1:2011cv00754 — CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
   • June 12, 2013: MEMORANDUM OPINION to the Motions and Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Gladys Kessler on 6/12/13. (CL, )
7. DC 1:2011cv01508 — RAJKOVIC v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
   • June 10, 2013: MEMORANDUM AND OPINION. Signed by Judge Rosemary M. Collyer on 6/10/2013. (lcrmc2)
8. DC 1:2012cv01341 — WETZEL v. US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
   • June 11, 2013: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 6/11/2013. (lcjdb2)
9. FLM 2:2012cv00361 — Brantley v. Myrick
   • June 11, 2013: ORDER re [26] Order to show Cause. The Court will provide Plaintiff one final opportunity to show cause by June 30, 2013 indicating why this case should not be dismissed for lack of prosecution due to the failure to file a Case Management Report within the time prescribed by Local Rule 3.05(c)(2)(B).The Plaintiff shall have up to and including June 30, 2013 to respond to the Order to Show Cause. Failure to respond will result in the dismissal of this action without further notice. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 6/11/2013. (LMF)
10. MD 1:2012cv01954 — Brown v. U.S. Department of Justice
    • June 12, 2013: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge William D Quarles, Jr on 6/12/13. (dass, Deputy Clerk) (c/m 6/12/13-das)
11. MN 0:2012cv01225 — Public Record Media, LLC v. U.S. Department of Justice
    • June 7, 2013: ORDER. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 1. Defendant’s letter request for permission to file a motion for reconsideration [41] shall be deemed a Motion for Reconsideration, and Defendant’s Motion for Reconsideration [41] is DENIED. 2. The January 29, 2013 Order [29] shall be designated as a Report and Recommendation. 3. The Court ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation of Chief United States Magistrate Judge Arthur J. Boylan dated January 29, 2013 [29] 4. Plaintiff is granted an award of attorney’s fees in the amount of $7,500, plus its $350 filing fee, for a total award of $7,850. (Written Opinion). Signed by Chie! f Judge Michael J. Davis on 6/7/13. (GRR)
12. NYS 1:2012cv08100 — The New York Times Company et al v. United States Department of Homeland Security
    • June 13, 2013: OPINION AND ORDER re: [4] MOTION for Summary Judgment, filed by United States Department of Homeland Security, [7] CROSS MOTION for Summary Judgment, filed by The New York Times Company, Maria Sacchetti. For the foregoing reasons, summary judgment is granted in Plaintiffs’ favor and DRS is ordered to disclose the names of the Released Individuals. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close these motions (Docket Nos. 4 and 7) and this case. (Signed by Judge Shira A. Scheindlin on 6/13/2013) (ja)
13. PAE 2:2008cv00230 — CAMPBELL et al v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
    • June 14, 2013: MEMORANDUM AND OPINION. SIGNED BY HONORABLE HARVEY BARTLE, III ON 6/14/13. 6/14/13 ENTERED & E-MAILED. COPIES MAILED TO CAMPBELL, ZIED-CAMPBELL.(fdc)
    • June 14, 2013: MEMORANDUM AND ORDER THAT THE MOTIONS OF PLAINTIFFS TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THESE ACTIONS IN ABEYANCE (NO. 08-230, DOC.#46; NO. 08-867, DOC.#43; NO. 09-2697, DOC.#32) ARE DENIED; AND THE CROSS-MOTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO DISMISS ALL THREE ACTIONS PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. SECTION 1915(e)(2)(B)(I) IS GRANTED. SIGNED BY HONORABLE HARVEY BARTLE, III ON 6/14/13. !
      6/14/13 ENTERED & E-MAILED, COPIES MAILED TO CAMPBELL, ZIED-CAMPBELL. (fdc)
14. VAE 3:2013cv00305 — Nabaya v. Stark
    • June 10, 2013: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Henry E. Hudson on 6/10/2013. Copies to counsel and to plaintiff, who is pro se.(cmcc, )