Case Detail

FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has ruled that the FBI conducted an adequate search for records on Callen Willis, finding 116 pages of her previously submitted FOIA requests. Willis submitted four FOIA requests to the FBI for records on herself. The agency found no records for three requests but located 116 pages containing previous FOIA requests she had submitted in response to her fourth request. The agency disclosed all the records but withheld the name of an FBI employee under Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy). Willis filed suit, asking for a Vaughn index explaining the withholdings. Jackson found the agency's search was adequate. She noted that "Willis makes no argument that the FBI's search was unreasonable, and she presents no evidence that the agency acted in bad faith; rather, she merely asserts an entitlement to the release of the information she requested. This is patently insufficient to overcome the presumption of good faith that this Court must afford to the FBI's declaration." Jackson agreed that the agency's redaction of an employee's name was appropriate. She pointed out that "this Court agrees that the privacy interest here is substantial, and that the public interest in release of this single name is minimal, because it 'reveals little or nothing about an agency's own conduct' and 'does not further the [FOIA's] statutory purpose.'" Jackson rejected Willis' request for a Vaughn index. She noted that "here, the agency has not withheld any responsive records, and has only redacted a single piece of information (an employee's name). [The agency's] declaration not only identifies the withheld material, but also provides a cogent explanation as to why disclosure of that piece of information would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of that employee's personal privacy."
Issues: Adequacy - Search

Date Filed	Doc #	Docket Text
2017-10-24		Initiating Pleading & IFP Application Received on 10/24/2017. (zsb) (Entered: 10/26/2017)
2017-10-24	1	COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION filed by CALLEN WILLIS. (Attachment: # 1 Exhibits) (zsb) (Entered: 10/26/2017)
2017-10-24	2	MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis by CALLEN WILLIS (zsb) (Entered: 10/26/2017)
2017-10-24	3	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by CALLEN WILLIS. Case related to Case No. 16-1092, 17-1742, 17-2038. (zsb) (Entered: 10/26/2017)
2017-10-24	4	MOTION to Compel by CALLEN WILLIS (zsb) (Entered: 10/26/2017)
2017-12-04	5	ORDER denying 4 Motion to Compel WITHOUT PREJUDICE; granting 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/30/2017. (zsb) (Entered: 12/06/2017)
2017-12-04		Case Assigned to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. (zsb) (Entered: 12/06/2017)
2017-12-06	6	SUMMONS (3) Issued as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (zsb) (Entered: 12/08/2017)
2017-12-15	7	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 12/14/17., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 12/14/2017. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 1/13/2018.) (td) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-18	8	MOTION to Compel Preparation of a Vaughn Index by CALLEN WILLIS; "LET THIS BE FILED" by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (td) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-21	9	GENERAL ORDER AND GUIDELINES FOR CIVIL CASES BEFORE JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON. The Court will hold the parties and counsel responsible for following these directives, and parties and counsel should pay particular attention to the Courts instructions for briefing motions and filing exhibits. Failure to adhere to this Order may, when appropriate, result the imposition of sanctions and/or sua sponte denial of non-conforming motions. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 12/21/2017. (lckbj1) (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-21		ENTERED IN ERROR.....MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure, on or before 1/11/2018. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 12/21/2017. (lckbj1) Modified on 12/22/2017 (jf). (Entered: 12/21/2017)
2017-12-22		NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: Docket Entry re MINUTE ORDER filed 12/21/2017 was entered in error and will be refiled in correct case.(jf) Modified on 12/26/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2018-01-16	10	ANSWER to 1 Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.(Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 01/16/2018)
2018-02-02		MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion to compel preparation of a Vaughn Index 8 is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Plaintiffs motion is premature, and ordinarily the Court requires submission of a Vaughn Index only after an agency completes its search and in conjunction with the briefing of dispositive motions on any withholdings. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall confer and by February 28, 2018, shall file a joint report and proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 2/1/18. (ms) (Entered: 02/02/2018)
2018-02-02		Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report and Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 2/28/2018. (gdf) (Entered: 02/02/2018)
2018-02-28	11	Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 02/28/2018)
2018-03-05		MINUTE ORDER: On consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report and Briefing Schedule, it is hereby ORDERED that defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment by May 1, 2018; plaintiff shall file her opposition and cross-motion, if any, by June 1, 2018; defendant shall file its reply and opposition by June 22, 2018; plaintiff shall file her reply by July 13, 2018. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/5/18. (ms) (Entered: 03/05/2018)
2018-03-07		Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motions due by 6/1/2018. Response to Cross Motions due by 6/22/2018. Reply to Cross Motions due by 7/13/2018. Summary Judgment motions due by 5/1/2018. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 6/1/2018. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 6/22/2018. (gdf) (Entered: 03/07/2018)
2018-05-01	12	First MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 05/01/2018)
2018-05-16	13	Third MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 05/16/2018)
2018-05-24	14	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 05/24/2018)
2018-05-29	15	MOTION for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Hardy Declaration, # 2 Exhibit Exhibits A to X to Hardy Declaration)(Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 05/29/2018)
2018-05-31		MINUTE ORDER: The defendant's 12 13 14 motions for extensions of time are hereby granted nunc pro tunc. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 5/31/18. (ms) (Entered: 05/31/2018)
2018-05-31	16	Order advising plaintiff to respond to the 15 MOTION for Summary Judgment and cross motion due by 6/29/2018. Defendant's reply and opposition to cross-motion due by 7/20/18 and plaintiff shall file her reply to the cross-motion by 8/10/18. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 5/31/18. (ms) Modified on 5/31/2018, to add additional deadlines. (zgdf). (Entered: 05/31/2018)
2018-05-31		Set/Reset Deadlines: Response to Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motions due by 6/29/2018. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment and Response to Cross Motions due by 7/20/2018. Reply to Cross Motions due by 8/10/2018. (gdf) (Entered: 05/31/2018)
2018-08-01	17	Memorandum in opposition to re 15 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by CALLEN WILLIS. "Let this be filed" signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 08/01/2018 (jf) (Entered: 08/06/2018)
2018-08-01	18	MOTION to Compel Preparation of a Vaughn Index by CALLEN WILLIS. "Let this be filed" signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 08/01/2018 (jf) (Entered: 08/06/2018)
2018-08-13	19	REPLY to opposition to motion re 15 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 08/13/2018)
2018-08-13	20	Memorandum in opposition to re 18 MOTION to Compel Preparation of a Vaughn Index filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 08/13/2018)
2018-08-13	22	RESPONSE TO ORDER OF THE COURT re 16 Order dated 05/31/2018 filed by CALLEN WILLIS. (jf) (Entered: 08/15/2018)
2018-08-14	21	Memorandum in opposition to re 15 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by CALLEN WILLIS. "Let this be filed" signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 08/14/2015 (jf) (Entered: 08/15/2018)
2019-03-29	23	ORDER granting Defendant's 15 Motion for Summary Judgment and denying Plaintiff's 18 Motion to Compel. Memorandum Opinion to be issued shortly, absent unforeseen circumstances. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/29/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 03/29/2019)
2019-05-16	24	MEMORANDUM OPINION granting Defendant's 15 Motion for Summary Judgment and denying Plaintiff's 18 Motion to Compel, as stated in this Court's 23 Order of 3/29/2019. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 5/16/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 05/16/2019)
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