Source: http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=7ab0e263-4b25-4346-864a-e89010a09548
Timestamp: 2017-06-24 12:34:09
Document Index: 732181572

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 1331', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16']

Complaint for Injunctive Relief | Electronic Privacy Information Center v Department of Justice | Electronic Privacy Information Center - JDSupra
Electronic Privacy Information Center v Department of JusticeComplaint for Injunctive Relief
In January 2006, EPIC filed suit in federal court against the Department of Justice for reports of possible misconduct submitted by the FBI to the Intelligence Oversight Board. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, has been assigned to the case. EPIC had already obtained about twenty reports to the Intelligence Oversight Board through another Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that raise questions about compliance with federal law. Since EPIC filed suit, the FBI has released several sets of documents responsive to EPIC's request. This is EPIC'S complaint. Download PDF IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION ) CENTER ) 1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. ) Suite 200 ) Washington, DC 20009, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) C. A. No. _____________ ) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ) 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. ) Washington DC 20530, ) ) Defendant. ) ) COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 1. This is an action under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552. Plaintiff seeks injunctive and other appropriate relief for the expedited processing and release of agency records requested by plaintiff from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a component of defendant Department of Justice. Jurisdiction and Venue 2. This Court has both subject matter jurisdiction over this action and personal jurisdiction over the parties pursuant to 5 U.S.C. §§ 552(a)(4)(B) and 552(a)(6)(C)(i). This Court also has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Venue lies in this district under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B). Parties 3. Plaintiff Electronic Privacy Information Center (“EPIC”) is a public interest research organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in Washington, DC. EPIC’s activities STATES DISTRICT COURT OF COLUMBIA PRIVACY INFORMATION C. A. No. OF FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), 5 U.S.C. § seeks and other appropriate for the expedited processing requested by plaintiff and This Court has over this action and over the to U.C. §§ 552(a)(4)(B) and 552(a)(6)(C)(i). jurisdiction Plaintiff Electronic Privacy Information Center ("EPIC") is a public interest research as a not-for-profit corporation in Washington, DC. EPIC's Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=7ab0e263-4b25-4346-864a-e89010a095482 include the review of federal law enforcement activities and policies to determine their possible impacts on civil liberties and privacy interests. Among its other activities, EPIC publishes books, reports and a bi-weekly electronic newsletter. EPIC also maintains a heavily-visited site on the World Wide Web (www.epic.org) containing extensive information on privacy issues, including information EPIC has obtained from federal agencies under the FOIA. 4. Defendant Department of Justice (“DOJ”) is a Department of the Executive Branch of the United States Government. DOJ is an “agency” within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. § 552(f). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Attorney General (“Attorney General”), and Office of Public Affairs are all components within defendant DOJ. Background 5. On March 29, 2005, plaintiff submitted a FOIA request to the FBI requesting, inter alia, records concerning the Bureau’s use of sunsetting provisions of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). In response to a subsequent lawsuit filed by plaintiff concerning this request, the FBI released, inter alia, documents describing thirteen instances of apparent intelligence misconduct by the FBI. Most of these matters were referred to the Intelligence Oversight Board (“IOB”). 6. The documents were the subject of intense media interest, reported and editorialized by news outlets throughout the country. As the Washington Post explained, The FBI has conducted clandestine surveillance on some U.S. residents for as long as 18 months at a time without proper paperwork or oversight, according to previously classified documents to be released today. its other EPIC publishes a bi-weekly epic.org) containing extensive on privacy issues, EPIC has obtained federal agencies Defendant ("DOJ") Government. "agency" Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), of the Inspector ("General"), are On March 29, submitted a request Bureau's of provisions Tools Required to Intercept and ("Act"). In response to a subsequent concerning this request, released, documents of intelligence misconduct by FBI. Most of these Board ("IOB"). The documents As the Washington Post has a time without classified documents to be released Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=7ab0e263-4b25-4346-864a-e89010a095483 Records turned over as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit also indicate that the FBI has investigated hundreds of potential violations related to its use of secret surveillance operations, which have been stepped up dramatically since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks but are largely hidden from public view. In one case, FBI agents kept an unidentified target under surveillance for at least five years — including more than 15 months without notifying Justice Department lawyers after the subject had moved from New York to Detroit. An FBI investigation concluded that the delay was a violation of Justice guidelines and prevented the department “from exercising its responsibility for oversight and approval of an ongoing foreign counterintelligence investigation of a U.S. person.” In other cases, agents obtained e-mails after a warrant expired, seized bank records without proper authority and conducted an improper “unconsented physical search,” according to the documents. Plaintiff’s FOIA Requests and Request for Expedited Processing 7. By letters dated November 14, 2005, to the FBI and Office of the Inspector General, plaintiff requested under the FOIA agency records concerning matters of possible intelligence misconduct reported or considered for reporting to the IOB. 8. On the same day, plaintiff submitted a FOIA request to the Attorney General asking for all reports of possible intelligence misconduct received from the IOB, as well as all records concerning actions taken by the Attorney General and/or DOJ in response to such reports. 9. EPIC also wrote to the Office of Public Affairs to request expedited processing under an agency-specific standard set forth in 28 C.F.R. § 16.5(d)(1)(iv), arguing that records requested concern a “matter of widespread and exceptional media interest in which there exist possible questions about the government’s integrity which affect public confidence.” 10. By letter dated November 16, 2005, the Office of the Inspector General informed plaintiff that it had located no documents responsive to plaintiff’s request. 11. By letter dated December 1, 2005, the DOJ Office of Information Privacy part of a Freedom of Information of but are largely hidden from FBI kept an unidentifed at Justice subject had moved from New York to Detroit. concluded Justice the department "from exercising its responsibility a S. person." obtained e-mails and "unconsented search," the Plaintiff's FOIA Requests By letters dated of the Inspector General, requested agency for On the submitted request General as as General and/DOJ in response EPIC also to the of Public Affairs to request expedited processing specific standard set forth in 28 C.F.R. § 16.5(d)(1)(iv), arguing that records requested "about the government's integrity which affect public confdence." letter dated that it had located no documents plaintiff's request. letter dated 2005, the DOJ Office of Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=7ab0e263-4b25-4346-864a-e89010a095484 acknowledged receipt of plaintiff’s letter to the Attorney General and stated that the Director of Public Affairs had granted plaintiff’s request for expedited processing under 28 C.F.R. § 16.5(d)(1)(iv). 12. By letter dated December 23, 2005, the FBI acknowledged receipt of plaintiff’s letter to the Bureau and stated that the Director of Public Affairs had granted plaintiff’s request for expedited processing under 28 C.F.R. § 16.5(d)(1)(iv). 13. Notwithstanding the Director of Public Affairs’ purported decision to expedite the processing of plaintiff’s FOIA requests, to date, neither the FBI nor the Attorney General has responded to plaintiff’s requests. 14. Notwithstanding the Director of Public Affairs’ purported decision to expedite the processing of plaintiff’s FOIA requests, both the FBI and Attorney General have violated the generally applicable statutory time limit for the processing of any FOIA request. 15. Plaintiff has exhausted the applicable administrative remedies. 16. The FBI and Attorney General have wrongfully withheld the requested records from plaintiff. CAUSE OF ACTION Violation of the Freedom of Information Act for Wrongful Withholding of Agency Records 17. Plaintiff repeats and realleges paragraphs 1-16. 18. The FBI and Attorney General have wrongfully withheld agency records requested by plaintiff by failing to comply with the statutory time limit for the processing of FOIA requests. 19. Plaintiff has exhausted the applicable administrative remedies with respect the FBI and Attorney General’s wrongful withholding of the requested records. of plaintiff's letter to the Attorney General and Director had granted plaintiff's request for expedited processing letter dated 2005, the FBI acknowledged receipt of plaintiff's stated that the Director of Public Affairs granted plaintiff's under 28 C.F.R. § 16.5(d)(Affairs' purported decision to expedite plaintiff's FOIA requests, to date, nor the General has plaintiff's requests. Affairs' purported decision to expedite of plaintiff's FOIA requests, both the and General for the processing request. has exhausted remedies. and General withheld the requested of Information Withholding of Agency Records repeats and realleges paragraphs and General have withheld agency records requested by to comply with the statutory for the processing of has exhausted General's withholding of the requested records. Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=7ab0e263-4b25-4346-864a-e89010a095485 20. Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief with respect to the release and disclosure of the requested documents. Requested Relief WHEREFORE, plaintiff prays that this Court: A. order defendant DOJ (and its components FBI and Attorney General) to process immediately the requested records in their entirety; B. order defendant DOJ (and its components FBI and Attorney General), upon completion of such expedited processing, to disclose the requested records in their entirety and make copies available to plaintiff; C. provide for expeditious proceedings in this action; D. award plaintiff its costs and reasonable attorneys fees incurred in this action; and E. grant such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper. Respectfully submitted, ________________________________________ MARCIA HOFMANN D.C. Bar. No. 484136 DAVID L. SOBEL D.C. Bar No. 360418 MARC ROTENBERG D.C. Bar. No. 422825 ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER 1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 200 Washington, DC 20009 (202) 483-1140 Counsel for Plaintiff Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief with respect to the release prays that records in FBI Attorney records in plaintiff; its costs and reasonable for Plaintiff Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=7ab0e263-4b25-4346-864a-e89010a09548
Reference Info: Pleadings | Federal, D.C. Circuit, D.C. | United States Send