Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention et al

We have added 13 documents from 4 FOIA cases filed between March 29, 2020 and April 4, 2020. 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. Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention et al (filed Apr 2, 2020)
   The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University submitted a FOIA request to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for records concerning the agency’s policy on when CDC employees may communicate directly with the press and the public. The Knight First Amendment Institute also requested expedited processing and a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied the Institute’s request for expedited processing. The agency also told the Institute that its request was too broad. The Institute agreed to narrow the time frame of its request and limit it to a list of potential custodians. After hearing further from the agency, the Knight First Amendment Institute filed suit.
   Issues: Adequacy – Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
2. Law Offices of Tony B. Jobe v. National Transportation Safety Board (filed Mar 30, 2020)
   Attorney Tony Jobe submitted a FOIA request to the National Transportation Safety Board for records that were either withheld or not searched as part of his earlier litigation against the agency for records pertaining to a fatal helicopter crash in Hawaii. Although the agency originally responded by sending an acknowledgement receipt to an old address, Jobe eventually received the agency’s acknowledgment. But after hearing nothing further from the agency, Jobe filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
3. Rader et al v. Department of Homeland Security et al (filed Mar 30, 2020)
   Kimberly and Katy Marie Rader submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning their great aunt, Kimberly M. Rader, who had been provided a humanitarian parole by the agency in 2011. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Kimberly and Katy Marie Rader filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
4. Lora v. JFK International Airport U.S. Customs and Border Protections (filed Apr 2, 2020)
   Rafael Lora submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for records concerning a package that was seized at Kennedy International Airport. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Lora filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit

In addition, we have added 11 documents from 4 cases, with earlier filing dates, that have recently appeared on PACER.

1. MILLER v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al (filed Mar 23, 2020)
2. Freeman v. Executive Office of US Attorneys (filed Mar 22, 2019)
3. O’Neill, Kevin v. United States Department of Justice et al (filed May 23, 2018)
4. Michigan Immigrant Rights Center et al v. Department of Homeland Security et al (filed Nov 30, 2016)