Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-03764/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-03764-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Personal Injury

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID A. CURCIO,

Petitioner,

 v.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION,

Respondent /

No. C-05-3764 MMC

ORDER DISMISSING PETITION WITH

LEAVE TO AMEND

Before the Court is petitioner’s “Petition to Perpetuate Testimony,” by which

petitioner seeks an order requiring the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) to photocopy

and provide to petitioner a copy of a “fact summation” petitioner asserts he filed with the

FBI. (See Petition ¶ 2 and proposed Order attached to Petition.)

Although petitioner fails to allege any legal authority in support of his petition, his

petition is governed by the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 522, which sets

forth the circumstances under which a federal agency is required to provide records to a

person who has requested them. Under FOIA, a district court “has jurisdiction to enjoin

[an] agency from withholding agency records and to order the production of any agency

records improperly withheld from the complainant.” See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B). A district

court, however, does not have jurisdiction to order an agency to produce records unless

the complainant has first exhausted his administrative remedies, specifically, by requesting
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that the agency provide the records, in accordance with that agency’s published

procedures, and thereafter receiving a denial of such request. See United States v. Steele,

799 F. 2d 461, 465-66 (9th Cir. 1986) (holding district court lacks jurisdiction to consider

FOIA claim, where complainant has not requested documents at issue from federal agency;

noting FOIA requires complainant to “request specific information in accordance with

published administrative procedures” and precludes filing of federal action unless agency

“improperly refused” to provide requested documents).

Here, petitioner fails to allege that he has requested the “fact summation” from the

FBI, in accordance with published administrative procedures, and that the FBI, having

received such request, denied the request. Consequently, the Court lacks jurisdiction to

consider the petition. See id.

Accordingly, the petition is hereby DISMISSED. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3)

(providing district court “shall dismiss” action over which it lacks jurisdiction). The Court will

afford petitioner leave to amend to allege, if he can, that he exhausted his administrative

remedies prior to filing the instant petition. Any such amended petition shall be filed no

later than October 31, 2005. If petitioner fails to file an amended petition that sufficiently

alleges exhaustion of administrative remedies, the Court will dismiss the action, without

prejudice to petitioner’s filing a new petition after he has exhausted his administrative

remedies.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 13, 2005 

MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge