FOIA Advisor

FOIA News: GAO publishes report on FOIA litigation costs

FOIA News (2015-2023)Allan BlutsteinComment

On September 8, 2016, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report that examined FOIA litigation-related costs incurred by federal agencies for lawsuits in which the plaintiffs substantially prevailed.  Of 1,672 lawsuits decided between 2009 and 2014, GAO identified 112 lawsuits in which the plaintiff substantially prevailed.  GAO reviewed cost data provided by the Department of Justice and other agencies, but it was not able to fully determine the litigation-related costs for these 112 lawsuits. 

Read the GAO report here.