IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE … · Cse 1:13-cv-00755 Document 1 Filed 05/23/13 Page 1of4 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUDICIAL

Case 1:13-cv-00755 Document 1 Filed 05/23/13 Page 1of4

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

JUDICIAL W /\.TC.I-I, INC. ) 425 Third Street, SW, Suite 800 ) Washington, D.C. 20024, )

) Plaintiff: ) Civil Action No.

) v. )

) U.S. GENERJ\.L SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ) One Constitution Square ) 1275 First Street, N.E. ) Washington, DC 20417 )

) Defendant. )

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff Judicial Watch, Inc. brin gs this action against Defendant U.S. General Services

Administration ("GSA'') to compel compliance with the Freedom of lnformation Act, 5 U.S.C. §

552 ("FOIA"). As grounds therefor, Plaintiff alleges as follows:

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

I. The Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B) and

28 u.s.c. § 1331.

2. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 (e).

PARTIES

3. Plain ti ff is a non-profit, educational foundation organized under the laws of the

District of Columbia and having its principal place of business at 425 Third Street, SW, Suite 800,

Washington, DC 20024. Plaintiff seeks to promote integrity, transparency, and accountability in

government and fidelity to the rule of law. In furtherance of its public interest mission, Plaintiff

Case 1:13-cv-00755 Document 1 Filed 05/23/13 Page 2 of 4

regularly requests access to the public records of federal, state, and local governme nt agencies,

entities, and offices, and disseminates its findings to the public.

4. Defendant is an agency of the U.S. Government and is headquartered at One

Constitution Square, 1275 First Street, N.E, Washington, DC 20417. Defendant has possession,

custody, and control of records to which Plaintiff seeks access.

STATEMENT O.F FACTS

5. On June 15, 2012, Plaintiff submitted a FOJA request to Defendant, by email and

ce11itied mail, seeking access to the following public records:

All videos produced by GSA Region 2 employees.

The request specified that it included, but was not limited to, all videos produced in connection

with GSJ\'s Linking Budget to Performance Initiative. It also specified that it was seeking videos

in which GSA employee Ben Kochanski appears. lt further specified that it was seeking all

videos that have at any time been available on the website of GSA Region 2 within the timeframe

of the request, which was from December 31, 2010 through the date of the request.

6. GSA acknowledged recejpt of PJaintiffs FOTA request in an e-mail message on

June 19, 2012 (assigning a control GSA FOIA number 223447). On July 13, 2012, GSA sent an

appeal to Plaintiff denying the requested tee waiver, which Plaintiff subsequently appealed. By a

letter dated February 5, 2013, GSA denied the appeal but agreed to waive any fee for the search.

The letter then inquired as to whether Plaintiff wished for GSA to "proceed with this request."

7. By a letter dated February 8, 2013, Plaintiff informed GSA that it wished for GSA

to proceed with the request. Since that date, Plaintiff has not received a determination in response

to its request or any other communications from GSA in regard to the request.

2


8. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i), GSA was required to determine whether to

comply with Plaintifrs request within twenty (20) working days after receipt of the request and to

notify Plaintiff immediately of its determination, the reasons therefor, and the right to appeal any

adverse determination. Even if Plaintiffs request was tolled during the time which Plaintiff

appealed the fee waiver denial, GSA was required to begin processing the request once it received

the confirmation it had requested from Plaintiff that Plaintiff wished to proceed with the request.

Accordingly, GSA was required to have responded to Plaintifrs request no later than twenty (20)

working days after Plaintifrs confirmation on February 8, 2013.

9. As of the date of this Complaint, GSA has failed to: (i) determine whether to

comply with Plaintitrs request; (ii) notify Plaintiff of any such determination or the reasons

therefor; (iii) advise Plaintiff of the right to appeal any adverse determination; or (iv) produce the

requested record, or otherwise demonstrate that the requested records arc exempt from production.

I 0. Because GSA failed to comply with the time limit set forth in 5 U.S.C. §

552(a)(6)(A), Plaintiff is deemed to have exhausted any and all administrative remedies with

respect to its request, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(C).

COUNT 1 (Violation of FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552)

11. Plaintiff realleges paragraphs I through I 0 as if fully stated herein.

12. GSA is unlawfully withholding public records requested by Plaintiff pursuant to 5

u.s.c. § 552.

J 3. Plaintiff is being irreparably harmed by reason of GSA 's unlawful withholding of

the requested public records, and Plaintiff will continue to be irreparably hanm:<l unless GSA is

compelled to conform its conduct to the requirements of the law.

3


WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectful Jy requests that the Co mt: (1) order GSA to conduct a

search for any and all records responsive to Plaintiffs FOIA request and demonstrate that it

employed search methods reasonably likely to lead to the discovery of records responsive to

Plaintiffs FOJA request; (2) order GSA to produce, by a date certain, any and all non-exempt

records responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request and a Vaughn index of any responsive records

withheld under claim of exemption; (3) enjoin Defendant from continuing to withhold any and all

non-exempt records responsive to Plaintiffs FOJA request; ( 4) grant Plaintiff an award of·

attorneys' fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. §

552{a)(4)(E); and (5) grant Plaintiff such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.

Dated: May 23, 2013 Respectfully submitted,

JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.

/s/ James F. Peterson D.C. Bar No. 450171 425 Third Street, S.W., Suite 800 Washington, DC 20024 (202) 646-5172

Attorneysjor Plaint(/

4

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l>l\IERSJTY

calcl!orv, 1·cprcscnls vour corn:s1i1111clinl!

Pm11er1v fiMltrll()!cV

Sud11I s curity

Other St• tu 1£'.•

Forrcitun/P<11;1llv L_J

l'ronc>ty

Prls0t1t1· Perilio11 W

Cfcrt\' Rixl1ts

Case 1:13-cv-00755 Document 1-1 Filed 05/23113 Page 1 of 2

CIVIL COVFR SHEF.T .1:5··1 ·1 (H.-" 3/13 I. (n) Pl .Al1'<T1FFS DEFENDANT!:i

.JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

(h) COUNTY Ut RESl!JENcr. 01· tJRST llSTf.l) l'LJ\IN'rlH COUNTY Of Rf;SJDCNCE OF FIRST LISTED ()CFENOt\N'J (l::XCl'.PT IN U.S. l'l..Ali'•ffJFF CASF.S) (IN U.S. J•l,,\lNTHT C:\Sl:S ONl.V)

(") Alf'l)lll\IE.\'S (HRM NAME. ADOKF.S , ANO TfLF.PllONENUMHF.R) ATTORNEYS (IF KNOWN)

JAMES F. PETERSON/JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. 425 Third Slreet. S.W .• Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20024

(202) 646-5172 D

II. llf\SIS OF JllRISlHCTION Ill. CITJZENSHII' Ol' l'lHNCIPt\L l'Alffrns (l'l.!\CEAN x JN 01\'[ BOX FOR(PLACE AN x lN Ol'iE BOX ONl.Y) PLAINTIFF AN[) ONE BOX roR OF.Fl'N)l,'\NT) FOR CASl·:s ONLY!

0 I U .S (io,1crnmcnt 0 3 f-edcrnl Qucslion l"l'I" DFT l'TJ' lHT

Pl inlill' (U.S Govcmmcnl Nol a J'arty) Citi;.ien of1his State 01 01 Jucorponncd or PrinciJXll Place 04 O.i ofBusiness in This S1a1e

0 2 lJ S Ciovcrnmenl 0 4 Oiv< 1ly t.:i1izcn or Anorhe< State 02 02 Jncorpnr.nctt and 1'1 incipal Os osJ)cfcn1l:mL (Indicate Citizenship of Paicies in item l!I) Place ofDusmess in Ano1hcr StRll:

Citizen or Subject ofa Foreign Country 03 0)

Fo1eign Nali•llt 06 06

IV. CASE ASSIGNMENT AND NA'l1JlU: OF SUIT (Place nn X in one J\-N, that best Cause of Action :rnd one in a Nature of Suit)

0 A. 1Jntitmst

D 4!0 Aulitrust

0 Il. Personal lnji11yl Mflfpractice

D 310 Airplane D315 AiJ·plauc Product Linbility D 320 Assaul(, J.ibtl & Slnndcr D 330 Fcdcrnl )'.mployers Liability D340 "fariuc D 345 Marin Produtl Linbility 0350 Motor Vehicle D355 Motor Vchir.lc I'rod11ct Li•bility D 360 Olhcr Pc1·sorrnl Injury D J<i:Z Mcllkal Malprnclice D365 Prndu(I Li:1bill(y CJ 367 fleMlllt Carc/Phannaceulicwl

l'crson:ol !11.fury l'roclt1cl LJ.bilily D 368 Asbestos Product Liability

0 K Cieneml Civil (Othe1) OR

Hc•I

0 C. Administmtive Agency Revil?lv

0151 Mcdic re Ad

0 86J HlA (JJ\1511) 0 862 J31ack Lung (923) D 863 DlWCIDIWW (40S(g)) 0 864 SSJD Thie XVI 0 865 RSI (4(}S(i:))

0 891 Aitricul<ural Acts 0 893 Environmwll<l Matlcrs 0 890 OtherStntutury Actions (II'

/\tlminbh'Klivc Agency is Jnvolved)

0 F. Pro Se General Civil

Q2!0 Land Cuu11en111ation D220 Jio1·ccl11,q111·c

0422 Appeal 27 USC JS:S D 42J Witlulr wal 211 US<.: 157

625 Dru Rdot•ol S i·,1..-c of l'rope1·ty 21 IJ.SC 118 I

069001hcr02JO Jk11t, I.case & EjeclmcntD 240 Tori to bud 024:5 'furl rroduct U<1bility 029<1,\ll Othc1"Hc:1I Pruprrt)'

Pt"r-s,onnl D 3711 Other l'rnutl 0371 Trn01 it1 Lcntliug D 380 Othcl' l'crs1111al J>n1pnty

D:rnrn11c 0J8S l'l'up rly D;1m ge

P1·ocl 11cr l .i>thility

535 Oe:>tlt l'cnally D540 Mnmlamus s, Oiiier

D 550 Civil lUghls D555 r•,-;,.,.,, Co11llilion 0 560 Civil Ddi1incc - C.untl itions

of Coulhmnenl

820 <.:opyright5 D !!JO l'ntcnl Oii.tOTr:ulcmark

Fc1'crill T x Suils D 870 Taxes (t:S plRi11ti1To1·

tldc11u11111) D lS71 IRS-Third l'11rly 26 IJSC. 7609

Olher Sl tute. 0375 F•lsc Cl•ims Acl 0400 S1:i1c Rc11ppor1ionrnrnl 04Jll f.l•nlo & Iln11l<i11:i 04SO Cooimcrccncc

Rates/etc. 04(o0 Dcpo1·talioi1 0<161. N 1ur;1li7.n1io11

Ap11lic:1tion 0465 Olhcr J111mil!,ra1iou

/\c1io11s D 470 l{Rci<clctr hi nucncrd

& Corrupt Or;:ani olion

0 J). Temporary Restraining Order/Prelin1i11"ry Inju11ctio11

1\ny nnturc of suit rro111 :II>)' rnlcgorym•y be sclect.1l for this c11tci:ory of case assignment.

•(Jf Ant ilrosl, then A ovcrnq)"

0<180 Consumer Cre11i1 0490 CAblc/S:11dlih' TV DB50 Sccuritics/Con111101lllies/

[xchan,i:c 0H% Al'bi1rntion 08 9 Allmini.strntivc l'rocc'111rc

. rlffirvirw Ol' AJ)flCal Of

Agener D<'ci it>n 0950 Comlitulio11Alil)' ol'Slnt•

S1a111lcs OMO 01hcl' Stnhtll>l'y Ac1lons

(if not n<.lrni11i.!otn11h·c ag JICJ' review 111· Priv"t)' Act)

0 0 8 0

0 L.

0

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r /..2.J,./.;zo I 3 . ,. I \ . ,,..."\

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primarv

Case 1:13-cv-00755 Document 1-1 Filed 05/23/13 Page 2 of 2

G. Habeas Cm1nisl H. Empfoyme11t I. FOl/l/J'ri11rn:v II cf 2255 Discrimination

J. St1.1de111 loa11

D 530 l1>1hc s Corpus - Gcnernl D 441 Civil Righ1s- F.mploy1111"'' [R] !195 l'recclnm of J11rol'l1111tion .\cl D 152 f eco\'ery ul'Dcl'11ultc<l D 11!/U Othe1· .51:1111101 y ArtiousD 510 Motiou/Vacntc Sentence (crih.:rht: nu:..-, t'mlt r/ .. :r, Stu cle11t Lmrn

D 463 H:il>e s Corpus - Alien mtliomtl ori in, (ii' Po·iv:icy ,\rt) {c clu1linl( vclcnrn.,) o.,1>1lnec <.JIS(»imina1ion, <.IisabBity. ngc,

religion, 1·et:11iulion)

*(If prose, sekcl lllis deck)' (Jfpnl s•, sekcl lhl• r.Jrcl1)•

K Labor/ER ISA 0 Other CM/ Ri{i/11., 0 M. Co11trac1 0 N. Tltree-Jutfge (11011-employmenl) (110T1-employmen1) Cottrl

DI I 0 Jnsur•nce 0 7JO Fail' Lah01· Stand>1nls Acl 0441 Voling (ii' uoi Vnliill( nigh ls 0120Mat'int 0 441 Civil Righls-VPtiugOno Lnhor/Mgmt. Rcl iiun Aci) 0 JJO Mille!' Act {if Volini: Rights Act} 0740 Lllhor R ilway A ci D 443 Honsini;/AccomnooilMions DJ.10 Negotiable Instrument 0751 Fumily au<l ll·l•tlic:il 0440 01111,r Ch-ii Righ1s 0 ISO Recovery ofOverp11ymeut

Lc:wcAct D 445 Amcric llS w/01.<>IJilirl•s - & .Enforcemtn( of D 790 Oth1:r J .abor Ulig•li1Jn F.111)lloymcnt Jndgmeut0 791 Empl. Rct. Inc. Security A t 0446 J\maic ns w/l'>isoliilille. - 0 !53 Recovery of OvcrpHymcnl

Other ofVcler•n's llcnc1its 0448 F.duc3lion DJ60 Stockboltlcr's Suit.<

0190 Other Contrncls

0 195 Coutmct P1'0d11ct 1,,iahilily

D196 Fr•11chise

V. OJUGIN

I Origin•I OlRr.mnmJ 0 3 Rema11ile1l fru111 04 Jltin lntetJ or 0 5 Trausrcncd li·um 0 6 Mulli-llistri<I 07 Apnc•lto P1·occcdlng from Stale Appellate Court Renpcuccl another distl'ict 1.iiig•liun District J111lgt

Cllnrt (specify) from Mag. Judge

VI. CAUSE OF ACTION (CJTf. THE U.S. CIVIL STATUTE UNilF.R wmcu YOU ARE fl LING ANllWIHTT. A l:IRJE}' STATEMENr OllCAUSt:.)

5 U.S.C. Section 552, "r-reedom of Information Act." Defendant is unlawfully withholding public records.

VJI. REQUESTED JN CHECK IFTl ns IS A CL.ASS J)EMANDS Check YF.S unly ifdemanded in complaint A<:l'IOl'I UNDER FRC.P.23 v-.:s D NO 00COMPLAINT .llJRY OEM AND:

VIII. RELATED C:ASF.(S) (See in$U)lClion} Y£SC] NO C&'.J Jfycs. please complete related case form lFANY

OATI; SIGNA'J'UIU: OJ• AT'l'Ol Nl Y Of RI.CORO

lNS'fnUCTIONS FOR COMl'l,,ETJN(; CIVIL COVER SHH'.'I' .IS-44 Au1llllrily for Civil Cover Sheet

The JS-4·1 civil cover sheet 1mtl the informati<lfl corot•incd lm"in oci•hcr rcplaCt'..s nor suppleme111s the filing:. an<l sci vices of pleadings or other papers u. required by 13w, except as pruvi<led by local rules nrcou11. This form, approved by the Jur.Jicoal Co11fercnce oflite United State. in September' I 974, is required forthe use of the Clerk of C.:ou11 for the purpo5e of inillatine, U1c civil docketsheet Consequently,,, civil cover sheet is submiued to 1hc Cletk ufCoo1t fos •<Sch dvil compl11in1 liled Listed belowarc tips for complctinc 1hc civil covtr slocct These lips l'01m:11k w11h 1he Roman Numerals on the cover shcel

I. COIJNTY OF lff.STl)ENCE 01' FIRST LlSTF.D PLA 1NTJl'f/f)IT£NDANT Cb) Cou nty or residence: Use 11001 lo indkalc plainliffifre.<iocnl ofW• hinglon, DC, 88888 if plai111iff is rc idcn! of United Slnles bm not Wa h1ngl•J11, OC. unJ 1)')9!)9 if plninlilf is oulside the United S1n1cs

Ill . CJTIZENSIJIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIF.S: This ec1ion is conoplctccl Jill!y if dive1.my orci1izcr1shii) w.is sclcclcd us the l:lasis ofJu1isdictio11 under Seelion JI.

IV. CAS['; ASSIGNMENT AND NATURE 01' SUIT: ·1 he us ienmcnl r1faJudge 10 your case will 1lcpcml 011 lhc cutcgory you sdccl lhal ltcsl represents the ca11se of:<clion found in your complnint, You mny sckct only one cmq;ory You 1mm also select one co1res1>onding nature of s11it found und r the category or the case

VJ. CAUSE Of ACTION: Cite the US Civil Statute under wloich you are Jiling and \Wile a boicf tott:rllcnt ofthe prim ry cnusc

VHJ. RELAT�D CASJ'.(S), If J\NY: If you indicated tha1 there is a rdatcd case, you must t:omplc1c a rcla1cd case fonu, which may be ublam.:c.I from lhe Cle1k's Office

Because oflhe need f'or accu1ate a111I co111pk1c information, you should Cl\stue the accur <:)' 01'1hc 1nforma11011 provided p1 ior m signi11g 1he room


FOIA Su111111011s

1/!J

UN"ITJm ST ATES DJSTRICT COURT

FOH THE DISTRlCT OF COLUMBIA

JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. )

Phlintrff ) )

v. ) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION )

) Defendant )

SUMMONS IN A Cl VIL ACTION

To: (Dcfentlont's name and addre. s) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION One Constitution Square 1275 First Street NE Washington DC 20I\ 17

A lawsuit has been filed against you.

Within 30 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedu1e. The answer or motion rnllsl be served on the plaintiff or plaintiffs allorney, whose name and address are:

JAMES F. PETERSON JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. 425 Third Street SW Suite 800 Washington DC 20024

If you fail to respond, judgment by default may be entered against you for tJ1c relief demanded in the complaint. Yon also must file your answer or motion with the court.

ANGELA D. C"'AESAR. CLERK OF COURT

Date: Signature of Clerk or D<:p11ty Clerk

Civil Ac1ion No

--------


FOIA Summons

I/ l 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA


Pio in tiff ) )

v. ) Civil Action No.

)GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION )

Defendtin/ )

SUMMONS IN A CIVIL ACTION

To: (Defendant's name and address) U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvani Avenue NW Washington DC 20530


Within 30 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiffs attorney, whose name and H<ldress arc:


If you fail to respond, judgment by default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in tJ1e complaint. You also must file your answer or motion with the court.

. ANGELA D. CAJ.::SAR, CLERK OF COURT

Date:

Signlllure of Clerk or Di>p111y C/11rk

-------


FOIA S 11nmOJlS

I /13

UNITED STATES DISTRJCT COURT

Ji'OR THE DlSTl:UCT OF COLUMBJA


Plaintiff ) )

v. ) Civil Action No.

)GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION )

Defendant )

SUMMONS lN A CIVIL ACTION

To: (Dcfe11do11t's name and address) U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 555 Fourth Street NW Washington DC 20530


Within 30 days after service of this summons on you (not cotmting the day you received it) you must serve on the plaintlff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiffs attorney, whose name and address are:


If you fail to respond, judgment by default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. You also must file your answer or motion with the court.

ANGELA D. CAESAR, CLERK OF COURT

Date: Sig11utllre of Clerk Qr Vepttl)' Clerk

Documents

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE … · Cse 1:13-cv-00755 Document 1 Filed 05/23/13 Page 1of4 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUDICIAL