National Security Counselors v. Central Intelligence Agency
2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 149073
| D.D.C. | 2012Background
- This three-action FOIA/APA case targets CIA processing and SOPs alleged to thwart FOIA rights.
- NSC, a Virginia nonprofit, seeks records and declaratory relief for numerous CIA FOIA handling practices.
- Plaintiff alleges twelve CIA policies intended to minimize FOIA consideration at inception.
- Key focus is assignment of rights, aggregate data, processing notes, and other FOIA-processing practices.
- Court addresses standing first, then merits, with partial dismissals and some claims proceeding.
- Assignments between JMP and NSC are at issue, with the court ultimately finding the NSC ownership valid and the assignment enforceable.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standing to challenge Assignment of Rights Policy | NSC has rights via assignment to pursue JMP’s records | NSC lacks enforceable rights in JMP’s records | Assignment valid; NSC has standing |
| Future-injury standing for policy-practice claims | Ongoing injury from CIA policies will recur | Plaintiff lacked concrete ongoing injury to sue | Most claims have standing; Non-Provision of Completion Date policy dismissed for lack of plaintiff-specific injury |
| Adequacy of remedies under FOIA and relation to APA/Payne relief | FOIA provides adequate remedies; APA claims may lie | APA claims duplicative where FOIA provides relief | FOIA provides adequate remedies; APA claims largely dismissed except where unresolved by FOIA |
| Validity of Cut-Off Date Policy claim | CIA’s universal cut-off dates are improper | Policy may be reasonable given volume of requests | Cut-Off Date claim may go forward; requires further factual showing |
| Document-Level Exemption Policy claim viability | CIA blanket-exempts redactions without specifying exemptions | Exemption application can be on document level when appropriate | Document-Level Exemption claim survives; requires case-specific application |
Key Cases Cited
- Sito v. DOJ, Sinto v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 176 F.3d 512 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (survival of FOIA rights upon requester’s death under Rule 25(a))
- Feinman v. FBI, Feinman v. FBI, 680 F. Supp. 2d 168 (D.D.C. 2010) (assignment of FOIA rights between private parties cautionary about assignments)
- Payne Enters., Inc. v. United States, Payne Enters., Inc. v. United States, 837 F.2d 486 (D.C. Cir. 1988) (policy-or-practice claims extend to failures to abide by the FOIA; Payne relief available)
- Goland v. CIA, Goland v. CIA, 607 F.2d 339 (D.C. Cir. 1978) (records retrieval concept limited by agency record systems configurations)
- Oglesby v. US Army, Oglesby v. U.S. Dep’t of Army, 920 F.2d 57 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (adverse determination and administrative-appeal framework under FOIA)
- Morley v. CIA, Morley v. CIA, 508 F.3d 1108 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (courts’ equitable powers to order searches under FOIA; Payne-like relief)