Opinion ID: 77938
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Review of Summary Judgment Regarding Adequacy of FOIA Search

Text: This court reviews a district court's grant of summary judgment in a FOIA case de novo, viewing all facts and reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, and applying the same standard used by the district court. Office of Capital Collateral Counsel, N. Region of Fla. v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 331 F.3d 799, 802 (11th Cir.2003); Tullius v. Albright, 240 F.3d 1317, 1319-20 (11th Cir.2001). Generally, FOIA cases should be handled on motions for summary judgment, once the documents in issue are properly identified. Miscavige v. I.R.S., 2 F.3d 366, 369 (11th Cir.1993). Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, admissions on file, together with the affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c). A factual dispute between the parties will not defeat summary judgment unless it is both genuine and material. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A factual dispute is material if it would affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law, and genuine if a reasonable trier of fact could return judgment for the non-moving party. Id.