Your web browser is not supported You're using Internet Explorer, some features might not work. Please switch to another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for a better experience.


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Federal Election Commission | United States of America Calendar
           Glossary
          Search
              Search


Menu
      Home
      Campaign finance data
        All data
            Raising
            Spending
            Loans and debts
            Filings and reports
            Candidates
            Committees
            Bulk data
            Campaign finance statistics
        Find elections. Search by state or ZIP code
          Look up contributions from specific individuals
      Help for candidates and committees
        All compliance resources
            Guides
            Forms
            Dates and deadlines
            Trainings
        Learn about electronic filing
          Find and contact your committee's analyst
      Legal resources
        All legal resources
            Advisory opinions
            Enforcement
            Statutes
            Legislation
            Regulations
            Court cases
            Policy and other guidance
        Search across all legal resources
          Search guidance documents
      About
        All about the FEC
            News and announcements
            Commission meetings
            Mission and history
            Leadership and structure
            Reports about the FEC
            Careers
            Working with the FEC
            Contact
        Introduction to campaign finance and elections


- Home
- ›
      FEC Record: Litigation
- ›
      Vroom v. FEC (Dismissal)

FEC Record: Litigation*Vroom v. FEC* (Dismissal)August 1, 2013 On June 28, 2013, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed Peter J. Vroom’s amended complaint, concluding that he lacked standing to challenge the Commission’s dismissal of his administrative complaint. In that complaint,
    Mr. Vroom had alleged that Penske PAC and General Electric PAC (GEPAC) had filed false and misleading information about their corporate relationship with the Commission, leading the Commission wrongly to allow the two PACs to disaffiliate in AO 2009-18. **Complaint** After the Commission dismissed Mr. Vroom’s administrative complaint, he filed a court challenge to the Commission’s decision on January 27, 2012. The Court dismissed that complaint without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction on December 6, 2012. Four
        weeks later, Mr. Vroom filed an amended complaint against the Commission, alleging informational injury. Mr. Vroom argued that the Commission’s dismissal of his administrative complaint denied him the ability to “fully and accurately determine
        the source, magnitude and ultimate recipients of political contributions made by [GEPAC].” **Standing** The Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) permits any person who believes the law has been violated to file a complaint with the FEC and, subsequently, to seek judicial review if they believe the Commission dismissed the complaint unlawfully.
        2 U.S.C. § 437g. The Act itself, however, does not confer standing under Article III of the Constitution. To have standing, the plaintiff must have suffered an “injury in fact” that is traceable to the defendant’s action or inaction and is “likely” to be “redressed by
    a favorable decision.” *Lujan  v. Defenders of Wildlife*, 504 U.S. 560, 660-61 (1992). Allegations of “informational injury” can provide the requisite injury-in-fact for standing; that is, when the action or inaction of the Commission deprives
    voters of information that would help them evaluate candidates for office, those voters may have standing to complain. *Federal  Election Commission v. Akins*, 524 U.S. 11, 21 (1998). **Court opinion** The Court dismissed Mr. Vroom’s complaint because it did not identify any information not currently available that would be made available were GEPAC and Penske PAC no longer disaffiliated. In fact, Mr. Vroom relied upon the FEC’s public data for
    GEPAC and Penske PAC to argue that the Commission erred in its decision. Absent an injury in fact, the Court determined Mr. Vroom lacked standing to bring the suit. Date issued: 6/28/2013; 7 pp.
     U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: Case 1:12-cv-00143-RMC **Resources:** District court memorandum opinion
    Vroom v. FEClitigation  page
    FEC 2012 Record article
    Advisory opinion 2009-18 [PDF]
 Author
          Christopher BergCommunications Specialist


Read next: AO 2013-07 – Same-sex spouses receive equal treatment
 Related: Explore campaign finance data »


This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


About
          Careers
          Press
          Contact
   Privacy and security policy
          Plain language
          No FEAR Act
          Strategy, budget and performance
 Open government
          Protected Voices
          USA.gov
          Inspector General
          FOIA
 OpenFEC API
          GitHub repository
          Release notes
          FEC.gov status


Federal Election Commission
 The FEC's Twitter page
            The FEC's YouTube page Sign up for FECMail


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms