Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04342/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04342-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 895
Nature of Suit: Freedom of Information Act of 1974
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EDWIN J. COHENS,

Plaintiff,

v.

JAMES COMEY, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-04342-JCS 

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 

DISMISS

Re: Dkt. No. 13

Plaintiff Edwin J. Cohens, pro se, brought this action to request documents from the

Federal Bureau of Investigation and its director James Comey (collectively, the “FBI”) under the 

Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”). The FBI moves to dismiss on the basis that the Court 

lacks jurisdiction because Comey has not exhausted his administrative remedies. Mot. (dkt. 13) at 

5−6 (citing, e.g., In re Steele, 799 F.2d 461, 465 (9th Cir. 1986)). Although Cohens filed an 

opposition, it states that he “has no problem with the Court if it dismisses the case due to 

jurisdiction issues” because “the rules must be followed.” Opp’n (dkt. 15) at 1. Cohens also 

indicates that he has begun the administrative process required by FOIA. Id. The FBI’s Motion is 

therefore GRANTED, and this action is dismissed without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction.1 The 

Court need not reach the FBI’s argument that Comey is not a proper defendant. See Mot. at 6−7.

The hearing and case management conference previously set for February 19, 2016 

are hereby vacated. The Clerk is instructed to close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 12, 2016. ______________________________________

JOSEPH C. SPERO

Chief Magistrate Judge

 

1

The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge for all purposes pursuant to 

28 U.S.C. § 636(c). The parties’ consent allows a magistrate judge rather than a district judge to 

resolve the case, but does not grant the Court jurisdiction that it lacks under the FOIA statute.

Case 3:15-cv-04342-JCS Document 20 Filed 02/12/16 Page 1 of 1