Opinion ID: 2654933
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Timeliness of the District’s FOIA Response

Text: Finally, FOP argues that it was entitled to summary judgment on its claim that the District failed to produce documents responsive to its FOIA request in a timely fashion. It is less than clear what effect such a judicial declaration would have in this case, since the only consequence provided in FOIA for an agency‟s failure to comply with the Act‟s time provisions is that the request is deemed to have been denied and the requestor is deemed to have exhausted his administrative remedies (a prerequisite to seeking judicial relief to compel agency action).71 We need not explore this question further, however, because we are satisfied that the (continued…) 70 Rein v. Patent & Trademark Office, 553 F.3d 353, 365 (4th Cir. 2009). 71 See D.C. Code § 2-532 (e) (2012 Repl.). 33 trial court correctly ruled that the District complied with the time deadline in the