Opinion ID: 2354141
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Delaying discovery

Text: ¶ 84 Because further proceedings may be avoided if summary judgment on adequacy of a search is granted, federal trial courts may and often do delay discovery until after rulings are made on motions in FOIA cases for summary judgment based on the adequacy of the agency's search. Lane v. Dep't of Interior, 523 F.3d 1128, 1133-35 (9th Cir.2008); Rugiero v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 257 F.3d 534, 544 (6th Cir.2001); Miscavige v. I.R.S., 2 F.3d 366, 369 (11th Cir.1993). `[D]iscovery relating to the agency's search and the exemptions it claims for withholding records generally is unnecessary if the agency's submissions are adequate on their face,' and a district court may forgo discovery and award summary judgment on the basis of submitted affidavits or declarations. Wood v. F.B.I., 432 F.3d 78, 85 (2d Cir.2005) (quoting Carney, 19 F.3d at 812). When the agency submits affidavits that are reasonably detailed, nonclusory and submitted in good faith, showing an adequate search was conducted, a district court does not abuse its discretion by granting summary judgment without further discovery. Lovaas v. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 393 Fed.Appx. 527 (9th Cir.2010). Indeed, federal courts have even directed that discovery should be denied if the agency's affidavits or declarations are sufficient. Schrecker v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 217 F.Supp.2d 29, 35 (D.D.C.2002). ¶ 85 This does not mean that a requester with good reason for pursuing discovery is denied discovery. If, in response to the agency's prima facie showing, the requester produces countervailing evidence or identifies apparent inconsistencies in the agency's proof, discovery may be in order. CareToLive, 631 F.3d at 340-41; Trentadue, 572 F.3d at 807; Perry v. Block, 684 F.2d 121, 127 (D.C.Cir.1982); Schoenman v. F.B.I., 764 F.Supp.2d 40, 45-45 (D.D.C.2011). In addition, even though there is a presumption of good faith that attaches to the affidavit or declaration of an agency's supervisor over public records searches, if a requester makes a showing of actual bad faith on the agency's part sufficient to impugn the agency's affidavits or declarations, discovery may be justified. Carney, 19 F.3d at 812 (citing Goland v. C.I.A., 607 F.2d 339, 352 (D.C.Cir.1978), cert. denied, 445 U.S. 927, 100 S.Ct. 1312, 63 L.Ed.2d 759 (1980)). ¶ 86 In short, in many cases an inquiry into the adequacy of a records search under FOIA's reasonableness standard has effectively resolved the issue whether discovery is necessary. If a trial court grants summary judgment on the basis that the agency's affidavits or declarations show the search was adequate and the requester has failed to sufficiently rebut this prima facie showing, there is frequently no remaining issue on which discovery is necessary or appropriate. And even if summary judgment on adequacy of the search does not effectively resolve the case, it would negate any need for discovery on that issue. ¶ 87 Delaying discovery in these cases can save time, effort, and costs, and can avoid unnecessary litigation and discovery disputes. These significant gains may be achieved at no cost to enforcement of the PRA. ¶ 88 Delaying discovery can also benefit both requesters and agencies. Under the PRA, requesters are entitled to quick responses to their discovery requests. If there is a dispute about adequacy of an agency's search for responsive documents, it should be resolved quickly. Government agencies should be able to obtain a quick determination that they have sufficiently responded to a request, if this is the case, and so avoid unnecessary expenditure of limited resources. If the agency cannot make a sufficient showing that it has adequately searched, then this determination can be made expeditiously as well. Delaying rulings on discovery until after any summary judgment rulings on adequacy of a search are decided should be the practice under our PRA, as it is under FOIA. ¶ 89 Proceeding in this fashion would serve the legislature's obvious preference for deciding PRA cases in an expeditious fashion, as well as its provision for cases to be decided on the basis of affidavits. RCW 42.56.550(1), (3). The legislature's specific approval of in camera review in such summary proceedings also suggests that a simple, expedited approach may resolve such disputes without discovery. [4]