Opinion ID: 1991224
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Nature of Stromberg's Interest in the Information

Text: As we did in Kirwan, we shall consider these two factors together, because they are usually related and are clearly related in this case. These factorsin a way a flip side of the first emanate directly from the very purpose and function of the fee-shifting provision. As was noted in the Senate Judiciary Committee Report on S. 2543, such a provision was seen by witnesses as crucial to effectuating the original congressional intent that judicial review be available to reverse agency refusals to adhere strictly to the Act's mandatesthat [t]oo often, the barriers presented by court costs and attorneys' fees are insurmountable for the average person requesting information, allowing the government to escape compliance with the law. Senate Report No. 93-854, supra, at 17. As the Senate pointed out, however, fee-shifting will seldom be warranted when the suit is to advance the private commercial interests of the complainant, because the self-interest of the complainant in that setting will suffice to insure the vindication of the rights given in the FOIA. Id. at 19. As one court observed, the public should not be required to finance the investigation of a FOIA plaintiff who makes the request with an eye toward prosecuting some litigation to his own benefit. Education-Instruccion, Inc. v. U.S. Dep't of Housing and Urban Dev., 87 F.R.D. 112, 116 (D.Mass.1980), aff'd, 649 F.2d 4 (1st Cir.1981). As we have just indicated, on the record in this case, it is beyond legitimate dispute that Stromberg sought and used the information in the AEC Reports for its own pecuniary benefit, to assure itself that there would be sufficient funds to complete the project and pay its invoices for the work it performed. At no time, ever, did Stromberg indicate any interest in the public dissemination of the information, in order to add to the fund of knowledge regarding the project. These factors thus weigh heavily against a fee-award.