Crisman v. Dep't of Justice
Crisman v. Dep't of Justice
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiffs Nancy Crisman and National Security Counselors ("NSC") have brought suit against the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB"), the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence ("ODNI"), alleging violations of the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"),
I. BACKGROUND
A. The Financial Institution Security Association ("FISA") Alert
In March 2004, the Financial Institution Security Association ("FISA") sent a document to the Federal Bureau of Investigations' ("FBI") Miami field office. ECF No. 1 (Compl.) ¶ 11. The document concerned *145Plaintiff Crisman and was titled "FISA Alert Report Form" (hereinafter, "FISA Alert").
B. Crisman's Original FOIA Request
In June 2005, Crisman filed a FOIA and Privacy Act request with the FBI, requesting all records about her-including the FISA Alert-from the FBI's Miami Field Office (the "Original Request").
In a lawsuit filed on March 31, 2011-Crisman v. Dep't of Justice , No. 11-658 (EGS) (D.D.C.)-Crisman challenged, inter alia , the adequacy of the FBI's search for documents responsive to her Original Request. See ECF No. 31-1, Ex. 2 ¶¶ 42-61. On November 8, 2011, in a Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice, Crisman agreed not to further challenge (1) the adequacy of the DOJ's search for responsive records for the Original Request, or (2) the FBI's invocations of FOIA Exemptions (b)(6) and/or (b)(7)(C) to withhold information from the FISA Alert. Compl. ¶ 26; ECF No. 31-1, Ex. 1 (Stipulation of Dismissal) at 1.
C. Crisman's Subsequent FOIA and Privacy Act Requests
Shortly after agreeing to the Stipulation of Dismissal in the first lawsuit, Crisman sent additional requests to the DOJ and other agencies relating to the FISA Alert and the termination of her assignment at the FRB headquarters. Specifically, between December 2011 and June 2012, Crisman sent FOIA and/or Privacy Act requests to four agencies: the DOJ, FRB, DHS, and ODNI. Her requests are set forth below:
*146• On December 27, 2011, Crisman requested that OIP, a DOJ component, search for: (1) all records pertaining to the classification of the FISA Alert; (2) all records pertaining to the subsequent declassification of the FISA Alert; and (3) all records pertaining to the administrative processing of Appeal No. 06-0524.
• On December 27, 2011, Crisman requested that the FBI, a DOJ component, search for: (1) all records pertaining to the classification of the FISA Alert; (2) all records pertaining to the subsequent declassification of the FISA Alert; and (3) all records pertaining to the administrative processing of the Original Request.
• On December 27, 2011, Crisman sent two additional requests to the FBI, requesting (1) all records in File 66F-MM-A55222 and (2) "all FBI records about her, including cross-references."2
• On January 9, 2012, Crisman submitted a request to the FRB for all records about her dated on or after March 26, 2004.
• On June 13, 2012, Crisman requested that the Justice Management Division ("JMD"), a DOJ component, search for all records created between 2004 and 2009 about her, the Original Request, or Appeal No. 06-0524.
Compl. ¶¶ 28, 34, 51, 57, 67, 78. Based on her belief that the mischaracterization of the FISA Alert resulted in her placement on national security and homeland watch lists, Crisman also submitted Privacy Act amendment requests requesting that all four agencies correct all records "identifying her as a potential national security risk, or otherwise referencing the FISA Alert ... to reflect the benign nature of that document."
D. Plaintiffs' Allegations in the Current Case
In the case before this court, Plaintiffs allege, in a seventeen-count Complaint, that the DOJ, FRB, DHS, and ODNI failed to comply with FOIA, the Privacy Act, the APA, and/or the Fifth Amendment in responding to Crisman's FOIA and/or Privacy Act requests. In Counts 1 through 5, Crisman alleges that the DOJ constructively or affirmatively denied her access to certain records related to her, the FISA Alert and the Original Request in violation of FOIA and/or the Privacy Act. Compl. ¶¶ 27-76. In Count 6, Crisman alleges that the FRB violated FOIA and the Privacy Act by constructively denying her access to records responsive to her request for "all records about her dated on or after 26 March 2004."
In their motions for summary judgment on all claims, Defendants maintain that they have complied with their obligations under FOIA, the Privacy Act, the APA, and the Fifth Amendment in responding to Crisman's FOIA and Privacy Act requests, and that there is no evidence in the record indicating that Crisman was placed on a watch list.
E. Defendants' Current Motions for Summary Judgment
On December 3, 2013, Defendants filed their First Motion for Summary Judgment as to Crisman's records denial claims (alleged in Counts 1 through 6) and Privacy Act damages claim (alleged in Count 17). ECF No. 26-1 (Defs. First Mem.) at 8-37. That motion also seeks partial summary judgment on Crisman's Privacy Act amendment claims (alleged in Counts 7 through 11).
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A. Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is appropriate where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) ; Celotex Corp. v. Catrett ,
FOIA cases are "typically and appropriately ... decided on motions for summary judgment." Gold Anti-Trust Action Comm., Inc. v. Bd. of Governors of Fed. Reserve Sys. ,
*148B. Motion to Dismiss
When deciding a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1), a court has "an affirmative obligation 'to consider whether the constitutional and statutory authority exist' " for it to consider the claims. James Madison Ltd. v. Ludwig ,
III. ANALYSIS
A. Defendants' First Motion for Summary Judgment
1. Preclusive Effect of Prior Stipulation
As explained above, Crisman entered into a stipulation in Crisman v. Dep't of Justice , No. 11-658 (EGS) (D.D.C), in which she agreed not to "bring any further actions seeking to challenge" (1) the adequacy of the DOJ's search for responsive records for the Original Request or (2) the FBI's invocations of FOIA Exemptions (b)(6) and/or (b)(7)(C) to withhold information from the FISA Alert. Stipulation of Dismissal at 1; Compl. ¶ 26. Defendants argue that "[t]o the extent that [Plaintiffs'] claims violate the stipulation," they are precluded by judicial or equitable estoppel as well as contract law. Defs. First Mem. at 3, 8-9. However, Defendants do not indicate which claims the stipulation arguably precludes, and therefore have failed to address this issue with sufficient specificity for the court to decide whether the stipulation has preclusive effect.
2. Claims Regarding the Adequacy of the Agencies' Searches and Applicability of Exemptions
In cases involving the adequacy of an agency's search efforts and the applicability of exemptions, summary judgment may be based on information provided in the agency's supporting declarations. See, e.g., ACLU v. Dep't of Def. ,
With respect to exemptions, if "an agency's affidavit describes the justifications for withholding the information with specific detail, demonstrates that the information withheld logically falls within the claimed exemption, and is not contradicted by contrary evidence in the record or by evidence of the agency's bad faith, then summary judgment is warranted on the basis of the affidavit alone." ACLU ,
i. Counts 1, 4 and 5
Crisman, in electing "to only challenge some of Defendants' positions" in their First Motion for Summary Judgment, does not oppose Defendants' motion with respect to Counts 1, 4 and 5. ECF No. 41 (Pls. First Opp.) at 5-6. She maintains that her position "should not be construed as a concession of the appropriateness of any agency action left unchallenged." Id. at 5. However, "[w]here a party fails to address arguments raised by the opposing party's motion for summary judgment, the Court may treat those arguments as conceded."
ii. Count 2 - FBI's Alleged Constructive Records Denial
In Count 2, Crisman alleges that the FBI has constructively denied her access to records in response to her December 27, 2011 FOIA and Privacy Act request, which asks for "(1) all records pertaining to the classification of the FISA Alert; (2) all records pertaining to the subsequent declassification *150of the FISA Alert; and (3) all records pertaining to the administrative processing of the Original Request." Compl. ¶¶ 33-43; ECF No. 31-1, Ex. 3 (Second Declaration of David M. Hardy, Second Hardy Decl.) ¶ 16. The FBI initially produced four pages in response to this request. Compl. ¶ 35; see also Second Hardy Decl. ¶ 12 n.3. Three months later, the FBI released the FISA Alert. Second Hardy Decl. ¶ 19; see also Compl. ¶ 39.
Crisman filed an administrative appeal with OIP, contesting the adequacy of the FBI's search and its redactions to the produced documents. Compl. ¶ 36; Second Hardy Decl. ¶ 13. On September 25, 2012, OIP remanded the December 27, 2011 request to the FBI " 'for a further search for additional responsive records.' " Second Hardy Decl. ¶ 21 (quoting Second Hardy Decl., Ex. M); see also Compl. ¶ 40. By a letter dated November 21, 2012, the FBI released all non-exempt material, totaling eight pages, to Crisman. Second Hardy Decl. ¶ 22. An additional search, "[i]n response to this litigation," resulted in six additional pages of responsive records. Id. ¶ 43.
Crisman argues that the FBI's productions are deficient because the FBI (1) failed to produce certain relevant documents, and (2) improperly relied on FOIA Exemption (b)(5) to withhold information. See Pls. First Opp. at 10-13, 17-19. With regard to the first assertion, Crisman argues that the FBI failed to produce six documents that were "clearly referenced" in the FBI's initial production and which she requested on appeal. Id. at 11-13 (detailing the "six clearly referenced documents").
However, "mere reference to other files does not establish the existence of documents that are relevant to [a] FOIA request." Steinberg v. Dep't of Justice ,
Crisman's argument that the six cross-referenced documents were "clear and certain" indications of the existence of additional documents that the FBI could not "in good faith ignore," Pls. First Opp. at 12-13, does not convince the court otherwise. None of the cases on which Crisman relies for this argument hold that cross-references in a responsive document qualify as "clear and certain" leads, requiring agencies to conduct additional searches. Indeed, the D.C. Circuit has suggested that the opposite is true. See Steinberg ,
Crisman also argues that the FBI improperly relied on Exemption (b)(5) to withhold information on three pages. Exemption (b)(5) allows federal agencies to withhold records if the requested documents include "inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters that would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency."
To justify summary judgment, "a declaration must provide detailed and specific information demonstrating 'that material withheld is logically within the domain of the exemption claimed.' " Campbell v. Dep't of Justice ,
Hardy's generalized, conclusory statements do not aid the court in determining whether the redacted information provides an "opinion" or "recommendation" regarding Crisman's FOIA request, and therefore do not adequately demonstrate that the deliberative process privilege applies in this case. See Coastal States Gas Corp. v. Dep't of Energy ,
*152In sum, the court finds that the FBI is entitled to summary judgment on the adequacy of the FBI's search, but not on its withholding of information under Exemption (b)(5). The court will order the FBI to submit another declaration that provides more detail regarding the application of the deliberative process and work product privileges to the information withheld.
iii. Count 6 - FRB's Alleged Constructive Records Denial
In Count 6, Crisman alleges that the FRB failed to adequately search for records responsive to her January 9, 2012 FOIA and Privacy Act request, which asked for "all records about her dated on or after March 26, 2004." Compl. ¶ 78. In response, the FRB submitted a 15-page declaration from David G. Caperton-Special Counsel for Oversight Reviews in the Legal Division of the Board of Governors of the FRB. See ECF No. 31-2, Ex. 5 (Declaration of David G. Caperton, Caperton Decl.). Caperton explained that the FRB conducted two searches. In the first, the FRB searched four components of its Management Division-Human Resources, Health and Employee Relations, Finance and Accounting, and Law Enforcement. Id. ¶¶ 16, 19. The search resulted in 13 responsive documents. Id. ¶ 8. In response to Crisman's appeal, the FRB conducted a second search of the relevant Management Division components. Id. ¶ 21. The second search revealed no additional documents. Id. ¶ 22-24.
Crisman appears to no longer contest the adequacy of the FRB's searches. Instead, she argues that the FRB should have conducted yet another search based on her claim that FRB security personnel informed her that they found "something in her FBI file." Compl. ¶¶ 15-16; Caperton Decl. ¶ 13. During a June 20, 2012 telephone call, Caperton informed Plaintiff's attorney that if he could provide the FRB with the "name of the security person who said something about the FBI," and that person still worked at the FRB, "[they] could ask that person ... if they have any records related to the incident." Caperton Decl., Ex. H; Caperton Decl. ¶ 14. Crisman's counsel did not provide a name until January 13, 2014, over a year after the Complaint was filed and almost three years after the FRB conducted its searches. See ECF No. 45 (Defs. First Reply) at 4; see also Pls. First Opp. at 13-14. Crisman cannot rely on this late-supplied information to argue that the FRB's search was inadequate or to request another search.
*153iv. Count 9 - DHS's Alleged Refusal to Search for Records
On December 27, 2011, Crisman submitted a Privacy Act amendment request to DHS, in which she informed DHS of the erroneously characterized FISA Alert and explained that she had "reason to believe" that the FISA Alert "led to the creation of an FBI record classifying [her] as a potential national security risk." ECF No. 30-1 (Declaration of James V.M.L. Holzer, I, Holzer Decl.), Ex. A, at 1. She further explained that she had "reason to believe that this information has been disseminated to other federal agencies, not least of which is DHS."
FOIA does not require an agency to "honor a request that requires 'an unreasonably burdensome search,' " Am. Fed'n of Gov't Emps., Local 2782 v. Dep't of Commerce ,
Indeed, in response to DHS's request for additional information, Crisman did not suggest a timeframe for DHS's search or provide guidance as to the types of records DHS should search for, but instead assumed that the requested information "is exclusively under the control of DHS and the FBI." Holzer Decl., Ex. E, at 1. Thus, to fulfill Crisman's request, DHS-which does not maintain a central index of records about individuals-would have to take on the burdensome task of examining and sifting through numerous records, without guidance as to the timeframe, location, or likely format of the records Plaintiffs seek. Neither FOIA nor the Privacy Act require DHS to do so. See, e.g., Assassination Archives & Research Ctr. v. CIA ,
Nonetheless, the court is not inclined to grant Defendants summary judgment, and risk denying Crisman access to potentially responsive documents, when it appears that neither party has made a concerted effort to come to an agreement on the contours of DHS's search. Based on the record, DHS, too, has failed to propose ways to define and narrow the scope of Crisman's request. See Holzer Decl., Ex. D at 1 (letter detailing DHS's need for additional information but failing to propose DHS components that may contain responsive records). Thus, the court will deny summary judgment on Count 9 as to DHS's failure to search for responsive records and order the parties to meet, confer, and attempt to define and narrow the scope of DHS's search for responsive records.
3. Privacy Act Amendment Claims (Counts 7-11, 17)
In Counts 7 through 11, Crisman alleges that the National Security Division ("NSD") of the DOJ, the FBI, DHS, ODNI, and the FRB violated the Privacy Act in failing to amend their records "identifying her as a potential national security risk, or otherwise stemming from the FISA Alert ... to reflect the benign nature of [the FISA Alert]." See Compl. ¶¶ 87, 95, 107, 117, 125. Crisman further alleges that NSD, FBI, DHS, and ODNI improperly denied her request that "her name be removed forthwith from any lists upon which she was placed as a result of [the] error." Id. ¶¶ 87-92, 95-103, 107-13, 117-21. Additionally, Crisman alleges that the FRB improperly refused to amend its records "documenting her expulsion from the building in April 2004 ... to reflect that this action was solely taken as a result of" the improper classification of the FISA Alert. Id. ¶ 125. In Count 17, Crisman seeks damages under the Privacy Act for the "adverse and harmful effects" she has suffered as result of the DOJ's misclassification of the FISA Alert. Id. ¶¶ 170, 172. She requests "relief in the form of a declaratory order that DOJ violated the Privacy Act and an award of damages." Id. ¶ 172.
Crisman voluntarily withdrew her Privacy Act claims in Counts 7, 8, 9, and 10.
In Count 17, Crisman alleges that she is entitled to damages under the Privacy *155Act's accuracy provision, 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(5), because the FBI failed to follow the procedures of Executive Order 12958 and its own internal memorandum in classifying the FISA Alert. See Compl. ¶¶ 165-72. Defendants respond that they are entitled to summary judgment on Count 17 for two reasons. First, that Crisman was aware on February 9, 2009, when she received the "FISA Alert Report Form," "of the potential for a Privacy Act claim regarding the proper classification of the record," and therefore her November 2012 claim for damages is untimely. Defs. First Mem. at 37-38. In response, Crisman argues that the FBI "mistakes the nature of the alleged violation." Pls. First Opp. at 19. She explains that she is contesting the FBI's failure to follow the proper classification procedures detailed in Executive Order 12958 and its own internal memorandum in classifying the FISA Alert-which she learned about in May 2012-and not the misclassification itself.
The Privacy Act permits complainants to bring actions "within two years from the date on which the cause of action arises." 5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(5). A cause of action arises under the Privacy Act when "the plaintiff knows or should know of the alleged violation." Tijerina v. Walters ,
Second, Defendants argue that Crisman is not entitled to relief on Count 17 because DOJ's records are exempt from the accuracy and amendment provisions of the Privacy Act. Defendants explain that "[t]he Privacy Act allows an agency's Director to promulgate regulations that exempt any system of records within the agency from" certain provisions of the Privacy Act. Defs. First Mem. at 39 (citing 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j)(2) ). In his declaration, Hardy points out that all records that are a part of the FBI's Central Records System, including the FISA Alert, are exempt from disclosure under the Privacy Act, as prescribed by
B. Defendants' Second Motion for Summary Judgment and to Dismiss
In their Second Motion for Summary Judgment and to Dismiss, Defendants *156seek dismissal or summary judgment on Counts 7 through 10,
1. Standing
Defendants first argue that Crisman's amendment claims should be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Defs. Second Reply at 8. Specifically, Defendants argue that Crisman fails to "articulate any injury-actual, threatened, or imminent-entitling [her] to relief," and therefore lacks standing to bring the APA and Fifth Amendment claims alleged in Counts 7 through 10. Defs. Second Mem. at 2. The court agrees.
Under Article III of the United States Constitution, a federal court cannot consider the merits of a claim until the party seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of the court can establish the requisite standing to sue. Whitmore v. Arkansas ,
Crisman alleges that "[u]pon information and belief, the FBI Miami Field Office ... placed [her] on numerous national security and homeland security watch lists which were then disseminated to other federal security agencies and DOJ components." Compl. ¶ 14. However, she also "admits ... that there is a chance that her name was not placed on a watchlist in *1572004." Pls. Second Opp. at 4 n.2. Crisman does not allege that the dissemination of these lists has resulted in "ongoing injury," such as the inability to travel or recurring, intrusive delays while traveling. Nor does she allege that there is a threat that such harms will occur in the immediate future. Rather, she asserts that after allegedly being placed on a watch list in 2004, her "belongings were searched," "she was escorted out of FRB Headquarters," "[h]er contract was terminated" and "she was subsequently fired by CNI." Compl. ¶ 15. She also argues that due to her alleged placement on a watch list, she was required to undergo "extra screening" both times she traveled by air since 2004, once in March 2009 and again in August 2011. Pls. Second Opp. at 12; ECF No. 50-4 (Pls. Second Opp., Ex. D) ¶¶ 8-9. All of these alleged harms-the search, contract termination, job termination, and "extra screenings"- occurred at least a year before Plaintiffs filed their Complaint, and are therefore not sufficiently "imminent" or "ongoing" to demonstrate that "a present case or controversy" exists. Veitch ,
Moreover, even if Crisman's alleged harms were imminent and ongoing, she has failed to demonstrate that these harms are "fairly traceable" to her alleged placement on a watch list. As noted above, Crisman is herself unsure of whether her name was actually placed on a watch list, and makes her assertion based on "information and belief." Compl. ¶ 14; see also Pls. Second Opp. at 4 n.2. Despite this concession, Crisman maintains that her "name was entered into a watch list-possibly [Violent Gang and Terrorist Organizations File] VGTOF, possibly the [Terrorist Screening Database] TSDB-by an FBI agent in the Miami Field Office in March or April 2004." Pls. Second Opp. at 9.
Crisman's main argument in support of this assertion is that because she was escorted out of FRB headquarters due to "something in her FBI file," her name must have been placed on a watch list. Id. at 11. However, aside from quoting from a standard notice relating to the VGTOF and TSDB watch lists that FRB Security "would likely have read," id. at 11-12, Crisman provides no evidence establishing that the "something in her FBI file" was a notice or other evidence indicating that her name was placed on a watch list.
Crisman further argues that there are three additional events demonstrating her placement on a watch list: (1) the FRB's Assistant Director of Human Resources' indication that Crisman had been "Removed, Based on Suitability or Security Determination," (2) the fact that she was "singled out for extra screening" at the airport, and (3) DOJ's observation that the "FBI's procedures for tracking and removing names from the TSDB were far from optimal." Id. 12-14. But again, Crisman fails to provide any evidence clearly connecting these events to her name being placed on a watch list.
This court cannot rely on Crisman's speculative and conclusory assertions to find that the FISA Alert led to her placement on a watch list, let alone that her alleged harms are "fairly traceable" to such placement or to the FISA Alert. Winpisinger v. Watson ,
2. Defendants' Additional Arguments
Defendants also argue that Counts 7 through 10, to the extent they advance claims under the Fifth Amendment and APA, should be dismissed for their failure to state a claim. Having determined that Crisman lacks standing to bring her Fifth Amendment and APA claims raised in Counts 7 and 10, the court need not address these additional arguments.
3. Plaintiffs' Remaining Claims
In Counts 12 through 16, Plaintiffs allege that the FBI failed to follow the procedures of Executive Order 12958 and its own internal memorandum when classifying the FISA Alert. See Compl. ¶¶ 131-72. Although Defendants purport to address Counts 12, 13 and 15 in their second motion, they have not provided argument with regard to these counts.
Defendants do address Counts 14 and 16, which allege violations under the APA, arguing that summary judgment should be granted on those counts because "FOIA provides for review" of Plaintiffs' claims, and therefore "Plaintiff may not seek review under the more generalized provisions of the APA." Defs. Second Reply at 18 (noting that the APA, at
*159can be brought under FOIA, alleging the APA violations in Counts 14 and 16 only "as alternatives to the FOIA arguments made in Counts 13 and 15, respectively." Pls. Second Opp. at 23; see also Payne Enters., Inc. v. United States ,
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants' First Motion for Summary Judgment and Second Motion for Summary Judgment and to Dismiss will be GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The court will grant Defendants summary judgment on and/or dismiss Counts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 17. The court will deny summary judgment as to Counts 3, 12, 13 and 15. The court will grant in part and deny in part summary judgment on Counts 2 and 9.
A corresponding order will issue separately.
Crisman's appeal of the FBI's withholding decision was assigned Appeal No. 06-0524. Compl. ¶ 20.
Upon receiving the FISA Alert, the FBI placed it in File 66F-MM-A55222. Compl. ¶ 13.
In a footnote in their Reply in support of their Second Motion, Defendants state that the stipulation precludes the claims in Count 12 but fail to provide any argument or evidence to support this assertion. Defs. Second Reply at 19 n.7.
Crisman also indicates that she does not oppose Defendants' motion with respect to Count 3. See Pls. First Opp. at 6. But, as Crisman points out, "Defendants' Motion and brief are silent on Count[ ] 3," id. at 4, and therefore Defendants have not demonstrated that they are entitled to summary judgment on Count 3.
Crisman also requests that the court, if it "agrees with Crisman that FRB's search was inadequate," order the FRB "to take three other records ... into account when performing a supplemental search." Pls. First Opp. at 14-15. The records are attached to Plaintiffs' Opposition as exhibits D through F. Having determined that FRB's search was adequate, the court will not order the FRB to conduct another search based on these additional records.
In Count 11, Crisman alleges that the FRB failed to amend "all FRB records identifying her as a potential national security risk, or otherwise stemming from the FISA Alert" and "all FRB records documenting her expulsion from the building in April 2004." Compl. ¶ 125. Caperton explains that the FRB's search-which the court has determined was adequate-returned " 'no records identifying Ms. Crisman as a potential national security risk or pertaining to her alleged expulsion from the Federal Reserve Building in April 2004.' " Caperton Decl. ¶ 11 (quoting Caperton Decl., Ex. F). Because there are no records for the FRB to amend, the court finds that the FRB is also entitled to summary judgment on Count 11.
Crisman maintains her claims in Counts 7, 8, 9, and 10 under the APA and the Fifth Amendment. Additionally, as discussed previously, Crisman also maintains her claims under Count 9 to the extent they challenge DHS's failure to search for records responsive to her FOIA and Privacy Act request.
The FBI released the FISA Alert with declassification markings to Crisman on May 31, 2012. See Second Hardy Decl. ¶¶ 19-20.
Both parties reference Count 11 in their briefs. See, e.g. , Defs. Second Reply at 4 (titling a subsection of their brief "Plaintiff's Claims 7-11 are not Actionable and Should Be Dismissed"); ECF No. 50 (Pls. Second Opp.) at 16 n.8 ("While it is not explicitly stated, Defendants' standing argument appears to only apply to Counts 7-11."). The court has already granted summary judgment on Count 11 with respect to Crisman's claims under the Privacy Act. Seesupra at 15 n.6. Moreover, in Count 11, Crisman does not allege violations under the APA or the Fifth Amendment-the focal points of Defendants' second motion. Defs. Second Mot. at 1 (noting that the second motion "focuses primarily on additional claims advanced under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution"). Therefore, the court will not address Count 11 in its analysis of Defendants' second motion.
On September 9, 2014, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Leave to File Additional Exhibits. ECF No. 52. The court will grant Plaintiffs' motion. However, Plaintiffs' first additional exhibit-Exhibit I-does not alter the court's analysis regarding whether Crisman has established that she was placed on a watch list. Exhibit I is a document Plaintiffs believe "demonstrates that [the 66F files designation] was used for watch list issues in May 2003." ECF No. 52 at 1. Plaintiffs appear to argue that this fact coupled with the fact that the FISA Alert was designated as a 66F file, Compl. ¶ 13, supports their argument that Crisman's name was placed on a watch list in 2004. But, absent evidence demonstrating that the FISA Alert was designated a 66F file because Crisman was placed on a watch list, the court does not find that such a designation establishes her placement on a list.
As discussed previously, Count 9 survives Defendants' motions to the extent that Defendants are required to meet, confer, and attempt to define and narrow the scope of DHS's search for records responsive to Plaintiffs' FOIA and Privacy Act request.
As stated previously, Defendants assert that the stipulation precludes the claims in Count 12 but fail to provide any argument or evidence to support this assertion. Defs. Second Reply at 19 n.7.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nancy CRISMAN v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
- Cited By
- 2 cases
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- Published