Case: Rahim v. Federal Bureau of Investigation

2:11-cv-02850 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Nov. 16, 2011

Closed Date: 2013

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On November 16, 2011, an individual resident of Louisiana filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") and the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"). The plaintiff, represented by various public interest and private counsel, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that defendants violated the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") by failing to make records available.Following Hur…

On November 16, 2011, an individual resident of Louisiana filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") and the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"). The plaintiff, represented by various public interest and private counsel, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that defendants violated the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") by failing to make records available.

Following Hurricane Katrina, the plaintiff co-founded Common Ground Relief ("CGR") to provide short-term relief to Gulf Coast storm victims, as well as long-term support for rebuilding communities in the greater New Orleans, Louisiana area. After discovering that one of CGR's employees was an FBI informant, the plaintiff submitted a FOIA request to the FBI seeking documents pertaining to the informant and either the plaintiff or CGR. The FBI denied the FOIA request, stating that it would not respond to a FOIA request concerning an individual absent a "privacy waiver" from that individual. The plaintiff appealed the denial, but the DOJ affirmed the FBI's refusal to produce the documents.

On May 31, 2013, the District Court (Judge Susie Morgan) granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment. The Court found as a matter of law that the plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies regarding his request for records pertaining to himself and CGR. In addition, with respect to the plaintiff's request for records pertaining to the FBI informant, the Court found that the plaintiff failed to produce evidence that any alleged government impropriety occurred. Finally, the Court concluded that if any exclusion was in fact employed by the defendants as to the records requested, it was justified. On May 31, 2013, the Court dismissed the plaintiff's claims with prejudice.

Summary Authors

Michael Mirdamadi (10/6/2013)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5140090/parties/rahim-v-federal-bureau-of-investigation/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Finger, Davida (Louisiana)

Godchaux, Sara H. (Louisiana)

Goodman, William Harry (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Dupre, Brock Darren (Louisiana)

Humphreys, Bradley Philip (District of Columbia)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:11-cv-02850

Docket

Rahim v. Fed. Bureau of Invest.

May 31, 2013

May 31, 2013

Docket
1

2:11-cv-02850

Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief

Nov. 16, 2011

Nov. 16, 2011

Complaint
34

2:11-cv-02850

Order and Reasons

May 31, 2013

May 31, 2013

Order/Opinion

947 F.Supp.2d 947

35

2:11-cv-02850

Judgment

May 31, 2013

May 31, 2013

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5140090/rahim-v-federal-bureau-of-investigation/

Last updated March 3, 2024, 3 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
34

ORDER AND REASONS granting 23 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Susie Morgan. (cbn)

May 31, 2013

May 31, 2013

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

National Security

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 16, 2011

Closing Date: 2013

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

An individual resident of Louisiana who organized a relief organization named Common Ground Relief following Hurricane Katrina.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal Bureau of Investigation , Federal

United States Department of Justice , Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Non-settlement Outcome

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General:

Records Disclosure

Terrorism/Post 9-11 issues