Source: https://otmlaw.com/high-profile-cases/
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 18:12:23+00:00

Document:
On February 6, 2018 the New York State Court of Appeals, heard oral arguments in a first impression case, where the NYPD has the federal Glomar response to State FOIL requests. The case was heard by all seven justices of the Court. Arguing for Appellants Abdur-Rashid and Samir was Mr. Mohammedi, arguing for the City was an Assistant Corporation Counsel. Some pictures from the hearing can be found here.
On December 27, 2017, the New York City Council’s Black, Latino/a and Asian Caucus (BLAC) filed amicus curiae brief in support of our clients, Abdur-Rashid and Samir Hashmi in their FOIL litigation against the NYPD. The Caucus consists of twenty-four (24) duly elected members of the City Council who represent about nine (9) million New Yorkers. Caucus members bear the responsibility of protecting New Yorkers civil liberties, including those guaranteed under FOIL.
The Law Firm of Omar T. Mohammedi LLC, announces the filing of an appellate brief before the Unites States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, on behalf of its client the Islamic Community Center for Mid Westchester (“ICCMW”). The filing appeals the decision issued by the District Court dismissing ICCMW’s discrimination and violation of the Religious Land Uses and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”) case. ICCMW’s property was deliberately targeted for discrimination by the City of Yonkers. The City of Yonkers discriminatorily designated ICCMW’s property as a landmark to prevent ICCMW from using the property as a Mosque.
Law Firm of Omar T. Mohammedi, LLC, (“OTMLAW”) has filed its reply brief on behalf of Talib W. Abdur-Rashid and Samir Hashmi against the New York Police Department. The reply brief challenges both the NYPD’s use of the Glomar in Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) requests and the NYPD’s use of the Handschu Guidelines as a shield to conceal their violation of FOIL. The appeal is now fully briefed and is pending before the Court of Appeals. Oral arguments will be scheduled. Stay tuned.
This matter arises originally from a decision by the Respondents– Respondents, the New York Police Department (hereinafter referred to as “NYPD”) to deny two separate record requests by the Petitioners–Appellants (Talib W. Abdur-Rashid and Samir Hashmi) pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (New York State Public Officer Law (“POL”), Article 6, Sections 84-90) (hereafter referred to as “FOIL”).
Law Firm of Omar T. Mohammedi, LLC, (“OTMLAW”) is pleased to announce that an [Amici Curiae brief) (friend of the court brief) of 31 media organizations, including but not limited Bloomberg L.P. and Forbes, the New York Times, the Daily News and the Reporters Committee For the Freedom of the Press, is filed with the New York State Court of Appeals in support of OTMLAW’s appeal filed on February 20, 2017 on behalf Abdur-Rashid and Samir Hashmi against the New York Police Department (“NYPD”) in a surveillance and Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”).
OTMLAW is pleased to announce that Ms. Hashem was handed the first victory in her lawsuit against Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Ms. Hashem filed her complaint last spring. In response to the Defendants’ motion to dismiss, the District Court sustained Sireen Hashem’s claims alleging employment discrimination, disparate treatment, retaliation (which included a false report to the FBI) and discriminatory discharge based on her race, religion and nation origin. Hashem v. Hunterdon, 2016 WL 5539590 (D.N.J. 9- 29-2016) Please view link to the order below.
On October 16, 2016, Judge Haigh, issued an Order rejecting the proposed settlement as “Not Fair and Reasonable” to protect the New York Muslim Community against the NYPD’s illegal surveillance. The Order was issued following a major opposition by the New York community against the weak provisions in the settlement proposal. In his decision, Judge Haigh referred to the brief OTMLAW submitted as well as the oral argument made requesting stronger provisions to protect the community, including its clients Iman Abdur-Rashid and Samir Hashmi. The two clients have related cases pending before the New York Court of Appeals. For more information, please links to the OTMLAW brief and the Judge’s Order.
Click here to view the application submitted to The New York State Court of Appeals.
The New York County Supreme Court on November 17, 2014 issued a decision stating that the New York Police Department cannot evade its obligations under the State Freedom of Information Law by invoking Glomar. The Court opined that undercover operatives or others providing confidential information to the police, are types of documents that are exempt from FOIL disclosure. Therefore, in order to invoke these exemptions, the law enforcement agency must first acknowledge the existence of documents.
[*1] Hashmi v New York City Police Dept. 2014 NY Slip Op 24357 Decided on November 17, 2014 Supreme Court, New York County Moulton, J. Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the printed Official Reports.
New York City Police Department, and RAYMOND KELLY in his official capacity as Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, Respondents. For a Judgment Pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
In this Article 78 proceeding petitioner Samir Hashmi seeks to obtain records from the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) pursuant to the state’s Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law § 84 et. seq., commonly referred to as “FOIL”). The records sought in Hashmi’s October 2012 FOIL request pertain to alleged surveillance and investigation by the NYPD of Hashmi, and of the [*2]Rutgers University Muslim Student Association where he served as treasurer while enrolled as a student at Rutgers. The request was prompted by a series of newspaper articles by the Associated Press that concerned NYPD surveillance of various Muslim individuals, groups and Mosques in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Information that might disclose non-routine law enforcement techniques, or reveal the identities of undercover operatives or others providing confidential information to the police, are types of documents that are specifically exempt from FOIL disclosure. (See POL §§ 87[e][iii], [iv].) However, in order to invoke these and other exemptions, FOIL provides that a law enforcement agency must first acknowledge the existence of responsive documents. Frequently, it is necessary for a court to conduct an in camera inspection of responsive documents for which an exemption is claimed in order to determine whether the agency has properly invoked that exemption.
Here the NYPD seeks to avoid that process on the ground that its mere acknowledgment of the existence of the documents sought by Hashmi would impair its ability to combat terrorism, even if the content of the documents would be exempt from disclosure under exceptions set forth in FOIL.
In making this argument the NYPD asks this court to adopt the Glomar doctrine, a common law exception to disclosure that federal courts have engrafted onto the federal Freedom of Information Act (5 USC § 552, commonly referred to as “FOIA”). The Glomar doctrine was first adopted in two cases involving FOIA requests that sought information about the CIA’s use of Howard Hughes’ salvage ship the “Glomar Explorer” in recovering a Soviet nuclear submarine. In Phillippi v CIA (546 F2d 1009 [D.C. Cir. 1976]) and Military Audit Project v Casey (656 F2d 724 [D.C. Cir. 1981]) the D.C. Circuit allowed the CIA and Department of Defense to neither confirm nor deny the existence of documents involving the use of the Glomar [*3]Explorer.
Before the court is respondents’ motion to dismiss the petition. As discussed at greater length below, respondents argue that this court should adopt the federal Glomar doctrine in evaluating Hashmi’s FOIL request and let stand the NYPD’s denial of petitioner’s request.
1. All records related to any investigation of Samir Hashmi, between 2006-2012, including the results of those investigations.
2. All records related to Samir Hashmi relied upon by the NYPD that led to any report being filed.
3. All records related to the surveillance of Samir Hashmi by the NYPD.
4. All records related and relied upon on the [*4]surveillance [sic] of Samir Hashmi used by the NYPD.
5. All directives and/or memoranda sent or received by the NYPD related to surveillance of Samir Hashmi from 2006-2012.
6. All directives and/or memoranda sent or received by the NYPD related to surveillance of the Rutgers Muslim Student Associations from 2006-2012.
7. All directives and/or memoranda sent or received by the NYPD related to the surveillance of Samir Hashmi, as Treasurer for Rutgers Muslim Student Association from 2006-2009.
In a letter dated November 13, 2012, a NYPD Records Access Officer acknowledged receipt of Hashmi’s request, and estimated that the department would respond in twenty business days.
More than six months later the NYPD denied Hashmi’s request in a letter dated June 28, 2013. The letter stated that Hashmi’s request did not include a certification of Hashmi’s identity. The NYPD also noted that Hashmi had not consented to the release of his records to his attorney.
1. Disclosure of the records would interfere with law enforcement investigations or pending judicial proceedings. POL § 87(2)(e)(i).
2. Disclosure of the records would identify a confidential source or confidential information relating to a criminal investigation. POL § 87(2)(e)(iii).
3. Disclosure of the records would reveal non-routine criminal investigative techniques or procedures. POL § 87(2)(e)(iv).
4. Disclosure of the records would endanger the life or safety of any person. POL § 87(2)(f).
5. Disclosure of the records would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. POL §§ 87(2)(b), 89(2)(b).
6. Disclosure of the records would reveal protected pre-decisional inter-agency or intra-agency materials. POL § 87(2)(g).
7. Disclosure of the records would violate state or federal statutes that specifically exempt such documents from disclosure. POL § 87(2)(a).
Hashmi took an administrative appeal of the NYPD’s denial. In a letter dated August 7, 2013, the Records Access Appeals Officer denied the appeal. The August 7th letter reiterated the objection that Hashmi’s identity had not been properly certified in the request. It also stated that the records requested had not been properly identified “in a matter that would evoke a path that could lead to the retrieval of responsive records with reasonable efforts.” The denial letter faulted, inter alia, the breadth of the records sought, and Hashmi’s failure to identify the NYPD unit that may have been involved in the alleged surveillance.
The NYPD’s primary reason for the denial was that the records sought, if they existed, would be exempt from disclosure under the FOIL provisions cited by the Records Access Officer that are set forth above. Consistent with its position in the instant motion to dismiss, the NYPD did not state whether or not it had any documents responsive to the request.
Hashmi brought this Article 78 proceeding to challenge the NYPD’s denial of the his FOIL request. Respondents moved to dismiss the petition. That motion is now before the court.
In general, FOIA’s procedures are similar to FOIL’s: an individual or entity submits requests to a government agency and receives one of three responses. First, the agency may identify responsive records and release them. Second, it may determine that [*6]there are no responsive records and inform the requester of that fact. Third, it may identify responsive records but determine that all or part of the records are exempt from disclosure under one of FOIA’s nine statutory exemptions, which are listed below. If an agency denies a FOIA request, there is the opportunity for administrative and then judicial review of the denial. In litigation, the defendant agency is typically required to provide the plaintiff requester with a detailed affidavit, called a Vaughn Index,[FN6] which describes the contents of each withheld document (while shielding exempt information) and explaining the statutory basis for its exemption. The Vaughn Index thus provides the plaintiff requester with some information to contest the agency’s basis for withholding documents or portions of documents, and allows the agency to carry its burden of proof. In camera inspection of the documents in question is often necessary to determine the validity of the claimed exemptions.
(3) specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than section 552b of this title), if that statute (A)(i) requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue; or (ii) establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld; and (B) if enacted after the date of enactment of the OPEN FOIA Act of 2009, specifically cites to this paragraph.
Section 552(b) goes on to state that an agency should redact exempt information if it is “reasonably segregable” and produce the redacted document(s).
The NYPD argues that it must have the option of submitting a Glomar response to certain types of requests. Otherwise, the existence of its surveillance and other anti-terrorist strategies will be revealed and therefore undermined. While it would appear that details concerning surveillance techniques and strategies would almost certainly fall under one of FOIL’s law enforcement exemptions, and that therefore the content of those techniques and strategies and the identities of undercover agents would not be revealed, the NYPD asserts that it would be harmful to go through the usual FOIL procedure of vetting the claimed exemption. According to the NYPD the mere acknowledgment of documents concerning surveillance would reveal the targets and scope of its anti-terrorism surveillance operations. Individuals and entities could know whether or not they are the subject of surveillance and adjust their activities accordingly.
The NYPD also correctly points out that the Glomar doctrine is [*9]effective only where whole categories of requests receive Glomar responses, whether or not there are actually documents responsive to those categories of requests. For example, the doctrine is not effective if it is only invoked where there has been surveillance of the person or entity requesting information. Were the NYPD to invoke the Glomar doctrine only when it had responsive records that it wanted to conceal, and give a “no record” response when it had no such records (or a Vaughn Index when it was willing to at least acknowledge exempt records), then requesters would see a Glomar response as nothing more than a governmental admission that records exist which the government wants to cover up.
The NYPD emphasizes the urgency of its anti-terrorism initiatives by stating the undeniable fact that New York City is a terrorist target. Two lethal attacks on the World Trade Center, and other, thwarted acts of terrorism have confirmed that grim reality. The NYPD submits the affidavit of Thomas Galati, who is the Chief of Intelligence of the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau. Chief Galati points to twenty-seven terrorist plots that law enforcement has disrupted since September 11, 2001. The NYPD argues that the individuals engaged in those plots could have found out if they were under surveillance by submitting a FOIL request. A response, even one that asserted an exemption that would suppress any detail about the surveillance, would still notify the individuals that they were being watched, and then cause them to alter their behavior to evade detection. The NYPD does not state whether it is aware of any instance of this use of FOIL by terrorists.
The NYPD urges this court to adopt Glomar just as federal courts have essentially as a common law amendment to a statutory scheme. It argues that just as Congress has never deemed it necessary to codify Glomar in FOIA, there is no prerequisite that the State Legislature do so in FOIL.
For the reasons stated below, the court disagrees and declines to adopt Glomar. The adoption would effect a profound change to a statutory scheme that has been finely calibrated by the legislature. Therefore, the decision to adopt the Glomar doctrine is one better left to the State Legislature, not to the Judiciary.
The insertion of the Glomar doctrine into FOIL would build an impregnable wall against disclosure of any information concerning the NYPD’s anti-terrorism activities. The wall would be created by the procedures used to vet a Glomar response, outlined above, which ensure that the decision to approve or deny a Glomar response is made with very little information, and with almost no useful input from the person or entity seeking the documents. A Glomar response virtually stifles an adversary proceeding.
Additionally, the Glomar doctrine has been shaped by more than thirty years of judicial precedent. It may be that the State Legislature would not choose to adopt wholesale that body of law. For example, the NYPD has indicated in its papers and at oral argument that it seeks a Glomar doctrine in state law that mimics the federal court’s very limited view of “public acknowledgment” waiver. As noted above under FOIA, an agency, or the executive, must publicly acknowledge the existence of responsive documents before a Glomar response can be defeated. Under this very narrow “public acknowledgment” doctrine, press reports and even governmental statements acknowledging the existence of a given program, are not sufficient to effect waiver of a Glomar response. Therefore, the extensive press reports — and book about the Muslim surveillance program, the mayoral candidates’ reactions to the program, and Mayor De Blasio’s well-publicized decision to disband the NYPD unit that had conducted the surveillance, all would be no impediment to the NYPD stating that it cannot confirm nor deny the existence of documents concerning the program. The legislature might strike a different balance on the question of waiver. Unlike a court, the legislature is not limited to the record presented by parties to a lawsuit.
Differences in the statutory exemptions listed in FOIA and FOIL also raise questions as to whether a judge should engraft the federal doctrine onto the state statute. In the vast majority of Glomar cases, the invocation of the doctrine is tethered to FOIA exemptions 1 and 3. FOIA exemption 1 protects “classified [*11]documents” designated by “Executive order.” Municipal governance does not include an analogous category of documents. FOIA exemption 3 relates to documents “specifically exempted from disclosure by statute.” FOIA exemption 3 is most often used in Glomar responses in conjunction with legislation that created the federal government’s national security apparatus. For example, two statutes frequently invoked in conjunction with exemption 3 in Glomar responses are the National Security Act of 1947, which exempts from disclosure “intelligence sources and methods,” (50 USC § 3024-1(i)(1)) and the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949, which requires the CIA director to protect intelligence sources or methods. These types of documents have no analogs in the NYPD’s own records.
Federal decisions exist that tether a Glomar response to FOIA exemption 7, which does have an analog in FOIL’s law enforcement exemptions. (See, eg, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals v National Institutes of Health, 745 F3d 535; Platsky v FBI, 547 Fed Appx 81.) However, the fact that the Glomar doctrine has arisen, and has been shaped, by the federal government’s preeminent role in “national defense [and] foreign policy” (5 USC § 552(b)(1)) casts doubt on whether a judge should apply the doctrine to the NYPD.
Since the September 11 attacks the NYPD has worked tirelessly in protecting New York City. This court’s decision does not reflect any judgment of the NYPD’s work. The court is instead concerned with oversight of governmental functions as embodied by FOIL. The legislature created FOIL to give New York’s citizens [*12]some insight into the functioning of their government. In doing so, it set up safeguards to protect against the disclosure of documents that could interfere with the proper operation of law enforcement. Engrafting the Glomar doctrine onto FOIL would change this balance between the need for disclosure and the need for secrecy. Secrecy is a necessary tool that can be used legitimately by government for law enforcement and national security, but also illegitimately to shield illegal or embarrassing activity from public view. It is a legislative function to write a statute that strikes a balance embodying society’s values.
For the reasons stated, respondents’ motion to dismiss is denied. Respondents shall answer the petition pursuant to CPLR 7804(f). This constitutes the decision and order of the court.
Footnote 1:Respondents’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss at 6.
Footnote 3:Affidavit of Samir Hashmi dated March 25, 2014, ¶ 19.
Footnote 4:Eg “Would a Democratic Mayor End the NYPD’s Muslim Surveillance Program?”, New York Magazine September 9, 2013.
Footnote 5:Eg “New York Drops Unit That Spied on Muslims,” New York Times April 15, 2014.
Footnote 6:Named for Vaughn v Rosen (484 F2d 820 [DC Cir. 1973]).
Footnote 7:Eg “With CIA Help, NYPD Moves Covertly in Muslim Areas” Associated Press, August 23, 2011; “Informant: NYPD Paid Me to “Bait” Muslims” Associated Press, October 23, 2012.
Footnote 8:For the reasons stated in this opinion, this court is not persuaded by Abdur-Rashid v New York City Police Dep’t, __ Misc 3d __, 992 NYS2d 870, which was recently decided in New York State Supreme Court.
The Law Firm of Omar T. Mohammedi, LLC defeats the Transit Authority’s (TA) Summary Judgment Motion and asserts Ms. Lewis’s civil rights in a prominent employment discrimination case two years following her death. In a resounding victory for Stephanie Lewis Judge Townes, the Eastern District of New York, found that there were overwhelming evidence that the TA discriminated against Ms. Lewis, Harassed her and treated her with disparity, retaliated against her, violated her freedom of religion and her First Amendment Rights and Unlawfully dismissed her.
The Law Firm of Omar T. Mohammedi, LLC currently represents various not-for-profit defendants in this $8 Trillion Multidistrict Litigation in the Southern District of New York.
OTMLAW defeated two motions to dismiss and five summary judgment motions on behalf of the six Imams to establish a major precedent protecting minorities from profiling, warrantless search, illegal detention, and false arrest and imprisonment based on the victims’ religious belief and practices, race and national origin. The precedent asserts the six Imams’ and other minorities’ rights under the Fourth, the Fifth and Sixth Amendment Rights.
OTMLAW successfully handled and settled a landmark $3 million case against the New York Police Department (NYPD) for the racial profiling and killing of an unarmed man, Amadou Diallo.The lawsuit was instrumental in initiating reform throughout the NYPD to prevent profiling against minorities in New York City.

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