Court Decisions

Energy & Pol’y Inst. v. TVA, No. 24-6134, No. 25-5111, 2026 WL 1265961 (6th Cir. May 8, 2026) (Larsen, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning industry groups and an insurance policy

Disposition:  Affirming in part, reversing in part, and remanding in part district court’s grant of government’s motion for summary judgment and denial of requester’s motion for attorney fees

• Exemption 4: First, the Court...

Prasad v. EEOC, No. 25-00758, 2026 WL 1265977 (D. Ariz. May 8, 2026) (Liburdi, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning plaintiff

Disposition:  Denying plaintiff’s motion for attorney fees

• Attorney Fees, Eligibility: “The Court finds that Plaintiff is eligible under FOIA to seek fees and costs.”  “The cover letter to Defendant’s disclosure, which ultimately served as the basis for this Court’s finding...

Democracy Forward Found. v. SSA, No. 25-03384, 2026 WL 1251617 (D. Md. May 7, 2026) (Gallagher, J.)

Re: Four FOIA requests where defendant assessed plaintiff fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1306(c)

Disposition:  Denying plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Jurisdiction; Fees and Fee Waivers, Fees:  The court relates that “Plaintiff argues that the SSA unlawfully failed to...

Reardon v. United States, No. 26-00178, 2026 WL 1244851 (D. Me. May 6, 2026) (Woodcock, Jr., J.)

Re: Request for records concerning third party

Disposition:  Denying plaintiff’s motion for leave to file a complaint pursuant to in-place filing restrictions

• Litigation Considerations:  The court points to a “[previous order] [which] provides that if [plaintiff] wished to file a new civil action in the...

Welter v. U.S. Dep’t of the Air Force, No. 22-3738, 2026 WL 1243400 (D.D.C. May 6, 2026) (Sooknanan, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning defendant’s investigations of plaintiffs

Disposition:  Granting in part and denying in part plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment; granting in part and denying in part defendant’s cross-motion for summary judgment

• Exemption 5, Deliberative Process Privilege &...

Malone v. U.S. Patent & Trademark Off., No. 24-1706, 2026 WL 1217252 (4th Cir. May 5, 2026) (Niemeyer, J.)

Re: Request for various records concerning “‘inter partes review’” proceeding

Disposition:  Affirming district court’s grant of government’s motion for summary judgment 

• Exemption 5, Deliberative Process Privilege:  “[The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit] [has] little difficulty in...

Knight First Amendment Inst. at Columbia Univ. v. DHS, No. 17-0548, 2026 WL 1223986 (D.D.C. May 5, 2026) (Chutkan, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning government’s searches of individuals’ electronic devices when they crossed border into United States

Disposition:  Granting in part and denying in part defendant’s motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiff’s cross-motion for summary judgment

• Ex...

Richards v. NSA, No. 25-2098, 2026 WL 1221780 (W.D. Ark. May 4, 2026) (Brooks, C.J.) 

Re: Request for records concerning surveillance of plaintiff

Disposition:  Granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment

• Exemption 1:  “Having reviewed both the Declaration and [plaintiff’s] Response to the Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court finds it undisputed that his FOIA requests ‘implicat[e] national...

Am. Ctr. for L. & Just. v. IRS, No. 21-2269, 2026 WL 1294474 (D.D.C. May 4, 2026) (Kelly, J.)

Re: Request for seven categories of records concerning “‘Be on the Lookout For’” lists at the IRS and records from the IRS’s Exempt Organizations, Rulings and Agreements division referencing Christianity or Christian organizations

Disposition:  Denying plaintiff’s motion for attorney fees

• Attorney Fees...

Reeves v. United States, No. 26-0930, 2026 WL 1192723 (S.D.N.Y. May 1, 2026) (Daniels, J.)

Re: Plaintiff’s FOIA claim

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff’s FOIA claim

Litigation Considerations, Pleadings:  The court finds that “Plaintiff’s FOIA claims fail for a number of reasons.”  “First, the only proper defendant in a FOIA action is the federal agency responsible for retention of the requested...