Center for Auto Safety v. U.S. Department of Treasury, Civ. No. 11-1048 (D.D.C.)
Case Summary:
This action challenges the government’s denial of a fee waiver under the Freedom of Information Act. The Center for Auto Safety seeks to obtain access to e-mail records in the possession of the U.S. Department of the Treasury concerning the government’s involvement in the Chrysler and General Motors bankruptcies, including the government’s role in supplying approximately $80 billion in taxpayer money to finance the bankruptcies. Rather than provide records related to the extraordinarily controversial bankruptcies – which left consumers and personal injury victims without recourse against the companies created to replace Chrysler and GM, despite the existence of widely known and sometimes fatal safety defects in Chrysler and GM vehicles – the government insisted that the Center pay $33,980 to photocopy the electronic documents, thereby erecting an impenetrable barrier to access.
Plaintiffs: Center for Auto Safety
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Status:
6/7/2011 - Complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
10/11/2011 – Plaintiff filed a Motion for Summary Judgment
12/19/2011 – Court approves a partial Stipulation in which the government waives fees and agrees to deadlines for its response to the Center’s FOIA request