167 F. Supp. 3d 55
D.D.C.2016Background
- Bartko, a pro se plaintiff, sought documents from USPIS under FOIA related to his name/identifier.
- The Court previously found USPIS search inadequate and some withholdings imprecise, prompting renewed agency submissions.
- USPIS provided two new declarations detailing searches of FCD and ISIIS databases and asserted searches covered all likely locations.
- Exemption 3 (Rule 6(e) grand jury material), Exemption 6, and Exemption 7(C) were at issue for withholdings; Exemption 7(D) was dropped.
- Bartko moved for discovery; the Court ordered in-camera review of withheld pages and ultimately denied discovery, granting USPIS summary judgment.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adequacy of USPIS search | Bartko alleges search remains inadequate and incomplete. | USPIS asserts searches of all likely locations with adequate detail. | Search deemed adequate; no genuine issue of material fact. |
| Applicability of Exemptions 3, 6, and 7(C) | Bartko argues exemptions improperly withheld material. | USPIS justifies withholdings under Exemptions 3, 6, 7(C) with privacy/public-interest balance. | Exemptions 3, 6, and 7(C) properly applied; privacy interests outweigh public interest in these records. |
| Public-domain exception to Exemption 7(C) | Bartko claims released materials put information in the public domain, warranting disclosure. | Public-domain burden not met; identified information not shown as substantially identical. | Public-domain exception not satisfied; exemptions upheld. |
| Segregability of nonexempt material | Bartko contests extent of nonexempt material withheld. | Warner/Williams declarations show proper segregation; surviving nonexempt material identified. | Sufficient segregation shown; no further release required. |
| Discovery | Discovery warranted due to delays and potential bad faith in processing. | Discovery rare in FOIA; declarations detailed and adequate; no bad faith shown. | Discovery denied; summary judgment granted to USPIS. |
Key Cases Cited
- Valencia-Lucena v. Coast Guard, 180 F.3d 321 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (reasonableness standard for FOIA search adequacy)
- Steinberg v. Dep’t of Justice, 23 F.3d 548 (D.C. Cir. 1994) (scope of FOIA search sufficiency)
- Oglesby v. Dep’t of Army, 920 F.2d 57 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (detailed affidavit to show search coverage)
- Reporters Comm. for Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749 (1989) (FOIA burden on agency to sustain action; de novo review)
- National Archives & Records Admin. v. Favish, 541 U.S. 157 (U.S. 2004) (evidentiary showing required to overcome privacy interests)
- Cottone v. Reno, 193 F.3d 550 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (public-domain burden and requirements to show duplication)