We have added 5 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between November 7, 2021 and November 13, 2021. These are associated with 4 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.
- CAS 3:2021cv01079 — National Public Radio, Inc. v. U.S. Central Command et al
- November 10, 2021: ORDER Denying [6] Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. The Court DENIES Defendants' motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The Court DIRECTS Defendants to file a response within the time specified by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a)(4)(A). Signed by Judge Michael M. Anello on 11/10/2021. (tcf)
- November 12, 2021: ORDER (1) Vacating Motion Hearing, (2) Granting [10] Plaintiffs' Motion for Pre-Answer Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, and (3) Setting Early Neutral Evaluation Conference and Case Management Conference. Motion Hearing scheduled for 11/16/20 21 is VACATED. ENE set for 12/15/2021 at 9:30 AM before Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard. In the event the case does not settle at the ENE, the Court will immediately thereafter hold a CMC. Signed by Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard on 11/12/2021. (hmw)
During the month of October 2021 federal district courts saw a total of 60 new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits filed under 5 U.S.C. 552. To place this number in perspective, 60 new filings compares with a monthly average of 54 filings during the last 12 months. This month’s total brought overall FOIA filings on an annual basis for these last 12 months to 651.
The figure below provides a more detailed view of monthly trends during the past five years. The height of each bar reflects the number of filings in that month. To see the actual filing count mouse over any bar. The superimposed line over the bars is the moving 12-month average. It is computed by adding up the 12 months ending at a given month, and then dividing that total by 12 to obtain the monthly average over this period. Mousing over any bar also shows the calculated result for this moving average for that given month.
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We have added 75 documents from 10 FOIA cases filed between October 31, 2021 and November 6, 2021. 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.
- CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES v. U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (filed Nov 4, 2021)
The Center for Immigration Studies submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for records concerning the ten leading nations or origin for self-petitioning spouses among the arrivals in the last five years for which data exists. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, CIS filed suit read more…
We have added 6 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between October 31, 2021 and November 6, 2021. These are associated with 6 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.
- CAS 3:2021cv01373 — Parker v. United States Probation Office et al
- November 5, 2021: ORDER Granting [3] Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Chief District Judge Dana M. Sabraw on 11/5/2021. (zda)
We have added 93 documents from 16 FOIA cases filed between October 24, 2021 and October 30, 2021. 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.
- Walton v. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of (filed Oct 29, 2021)
Keith Walton, a federal prisoner, submitted a FOIA request to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for records concerning his incarceration on gun charges. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Walton filed suit. read more…
We have added 6 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between October 24, 2021 and October 30, 2021. These are associated with 6 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.
- DC 1:2017cv00066 — ELGABROWNY v. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY et al
- October 27, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION GRANTING the Motion to Dismiss for Want of Prosecution, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) [94] filed by Defendants, the United States Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency. Accordingly, the case a gainst them is DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and D.C. Local Civil Rule 83.23. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and the accompanying Order [98] to Plaintiff at his current address of record. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/27/2021. (psu3)
We have added 126 documents from 15 FOIA cases filed between October 17, 2021 and October 23, 2021. 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.
- AMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE et al (filed Oct 21, 2021)
American Oversight submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Interior, and the Department of Justice for records concerning communications sent or received by officials at the various agencies. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agencies, American Oversight filed suit read more…
We have added 10 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between October 17, 2021 and October 23, 2021. These are associated with 9 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.
- DC 1:2018cv00155 — REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS v. UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION et al
- October 18, 2021: MEMORANDUM OPINION re Defendant's [59] Motion for Summary Judgment and Plaintiff's [60] Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/18/2021. (lctnm2)
U.S. Right to Know v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and 17 other new FOIA lawsuits
We have added 85 documents from 17 FOIA cases filed between October 10, 2021 and October 16, 2021. 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.
- U.S. Right to Know v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (filed Oct 14, 2021)
U.S. Right to Know submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Health and Human Services for records containing identified search terms that were exchanged between a specific HHS employee and other entities. U.S. Right to Know also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, U read more…
We have added 7 decisions of a procedural or substantive nature filed between October 10, 2021 and October 16, 2021. These are associated with 7 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.
- CAC 2:2018cv08034 — Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights et al v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
- October 14, 2021: JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANT by Judge George H. Wu. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that that judgment is entered in favor of Defendant on all causes of action, and against Plaintiffs. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that each side will bear its own costs, fees, and expenses. (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (lom)
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