Edelman v. Dep't of Educ., No. 18-2143, 2020 WL 7123175 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 2020) (Seybert, J.)

Edelman v. Dep't of Educ., No. 18-2143, 2020 WL 7123175 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 2020) (Seybert, J.)

Re:  Requests for records concerning plaintiff's student loans

Disposition:  Dismissing plaintiff's FOIA claims

Litigation Considerations, Relief:  The court relates that "[plaintiff] asserts that Federal Defendants violated the [FOIA] by unreasonably delaying the production of documents and refusing to provide updates about his FOIA requests."  "Plaintiff does not request equitable relief ordering the disclosure of information; rather, he seeks monetary damages in the amount of $15,000."  "However, [the court finds that] the FOIA does not provide a private right of action for monetary damages."  "Rather, the Act's remedy is limited to 'enjoin[ing] the agency from withholding agency records and to order[ing] the production of any agency records improperly withheld from the complainant.'"  "Accordingly, as the Court is precluded from granting the relief sought, Plaintiff's FOIA claims are dismissed with prejudice."