FOIA Advisor

Court opinions issued Dec. 16, 2019

Court Opinions (2015-2023)Allan BlutsteinComment

Pendell v. U.S. Secret Serv. (N.D.N.Y.) -- finding that agency performed adequate search for records concerning plaintiff’s criminal conviction and that it properly redacted records pursuant to Exemption 6, 7(C), and 7(E).

Inter-Coop. Exch. v. U.S. Dep't of Commerce (D. Alaska) -- ruling that: (1) government performed reasonable search for records concerning proposed crab price arbitration system standards, which included search of official’s social media and personal cell phone for texts and voicemail; (2) government properly redacted information from emails pursuant to the attorney-client privilege.

Smith v. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enf't. (D. Colo.) -- permanently enjoining ICE from applying its standard operating procedure for denying FOIA requests of fugitive aliens, rejecting agency’s argument that such withholdings are justified by Exemption 7(A).

Blixseth v. U.S. Coast Guard (D.D.C.) -- concluding that the Coast Guard’s search for records concerning the interception of his yacht in 2010 was “impressive in its comprehensiveness” and that the agency “should be commended for . . . diligent efforts.”

Summaries of all published opinions issued since April 2015 are available here.