Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-02733/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-02733-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 895
Nature of Suit: Freedom of Information Act of 1974
Cause of Action: 05:552 Freedom of Information Act

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WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Kieran M. Gallagher, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

Janet A Napolitano, Secretary of the 

Department of Homeland Security, 

Defendant. 

No. CV-12-02733-PHX-JAT

ORDER 

 Pending before the Court is Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 5). The Court 

now rules on the Motion. 

 On December 28, 2012, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in this Court. In his 

Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that he submitted a request to Defendant pursuant to the 

Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) on July 25, 2012, requesting information 

regarding Plaintiff’s past employment with the Federal Air Marshal Service. Plaintiff 

further alleges that, on September 7, 2012, Defendant informed Plaintiff that he needed to 

include an accompanying notarized perjury statement with his request. Plaintiff alleges 

that, on October 3, 2012, Defendant acknowledged that Defendant received the 

conforming request. Plaintiff finally alleges that, as of December 28, 2012, Defendant 

had not otherwise responded to Plaintiff’s request. As relief, Plaintiff seeks that 

Defendant comply with Plaintiff’s FOIA request. 

 On January 28, 2013, Defendant moved to dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint pursuant 

to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). Plaintiff did not respond to 

Case 2:12-cv-02733-JAT Document 6 Filed 03/18/13 Page 1 of 2
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the Motion to Dismiss. 

 Defendant argues that Defendant Napolitano must be dismissed from this case 

because a Plaintiff may not assert a claim against an individual federal official because 

the proper Defendant is the agency. The Court agrees that Plaintiff has failed to state a 

claim against Secretary Napolitano pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) 

because, in a FOIA action, the proper Defendant is the agency. See Drake v. Obama, 664 

F.3d 774, 785-86 (9th Cir. 2011) (holding that District Court correctly dismissed 

Plaintiffs’ FOIA causes of action for failure to state a claim because all of the Defendants 

were individuals and not agencies). 

 The Court will nonetheless allow Plaintiff leave to amend to possibly add a proper 

Defendant. If Plaintiff chooses to amend, he shall include allegations in his complaint 

explaining how FOIA entitles him to relief in this case. 

 Based on the foregoing, 

IT IS ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 5) is granted. The 

Clerk of the Court shall dismiss Defendant Napolitano from this case. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint 

within 15 days of the date of this Order. If Plaintiff does not file an amended complaint 

within 15 days of the date of this Order, the Clerk of the Court shall dismiss this case and 

enter judgment accordingly. 

 Dated this 18th day of March, 2013. 

 

 

Case 2:12-cv-02733-JAT Document 6 Filed 03/18/13 Page 2 of 2