Emery v. United States Department of Justice ( 2022 )


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  •                                   UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
    FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
    TONY E. EMERY,
    Plaintiff,                        Civil Action No. 19-3525 (JMC)
    v.
    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
    JUSTICE & FEDERAL BUREAU OF
    INVESTIGATION,
    Defendants.
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    Pro se Plaintiff Tony E. Emery brought this action against the United States Department of
    Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for failing to provide him records in
    response to his requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    , and the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a. 1 The DOJ moved for summary judgment, 2
    ECF 21, and Emery did not file a response. Because the FBI conducted an adequate search for
    Emery’s records and has released all non-exempt, reasonably segregable records to him, the Court
    GRANTS the DOJ’s Motion for Summary Judgment. Based on that disposition, the Court also
    DENIES Emery’s Motion to Assess Court Costs to the Respondents. ECF 20.
    1
    Unless otherwise indicated, the formatting of quoted materials has been modified throughout this opinion, for
    example, by omitting internal quotation marks and citations, and by incorporating emphases, changes to capitalization,
    and other bracketed alterations therein. All pincites to documents filed on the docket are to the automatically generated
    ECF Page ID number that appears at the top of each page.
    2
    Although Emery named both the DOJ and the FBI as defendants in this case, the DOJ identifies itself as the only
    defendant in this action and the FBI as its “component.” ECF 21 at 1. The D.C. Circuit has suggested that the FBI
    might be “subject to the FOIA in its own name.” Peralta v. U.S. Att’ys Off., 
    136 F.3d 169
    , 173 (D.C. Cir. 1998).
    However, it is unnecessary for this Court to determine if the FBI is a proper defendant because the Court’s findings
    and conclusions warrant dismissal of Emery’s case whether or not the FBI is included as a second defendant.
    1
    I. BACKGROUND
    On August 29, 2019, Tony E. Emery requested records about himself from the FBI. ECF
    21-2 at 39. Emery’s request sought “all records, documents, and information [in FBI] files
    pertaining to [him] or mentioning [his] name” in the FBI’s “[c]entral databases and field offices in
    Missouri.” 
    Id.
     On September 17, 2019, the FBI replied to Emery by letter, notifying him that the
    FBI had “conducted a search of the places reasonably expected to have records” and that it was
    “unable to identify law enforcement or administrative records responsive to Plaintiff’s request.”
    Id. at 4. The FBI’s letter also advised Emery that he had the right to appeal its determination to the
    DOJ’s Office of Information Policy, and included the instructions, the applicable deadline, and
    other pertinent information necessary for him to do so. Id. at 43.
    Emery did not file an administrative appeal. Id. at 4. Instead, in November 2019, Emery
    initiated this action alleging that the DOJ and FBI violated FOIA and the Privacy Act by failing to
    produce records in response to his request. ECF 1. While Emery’s lawsuit was pending, the FBI
    conducted a new, broader search for records that included additional field offices, also in Missouri.
    ECF 21-2 at 4. After expanding its search, the FBI located responsive documents and mailed the
    nonexempt records to Emery in January and March of 2021. Id. at 4–5.
    More than two months after that disclosure, the DOJ filed its Motion for Summary
    Judgment. ECF 21. Because Emery is pro se, the Court issued an order to advise him of his
    obligation to respond to the DOJ’s motion by the Court-imposed deadline. ECF 23. The Court’s
    order set forth the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 and Local Civil Rule 7(h),
    warning Emery that the Court could accept the DOJ’s factual assertions as true if Emery did not
    dispute them with his own affidavits and evidence. Id. at 3. Emery never filed a response.
    2
    II. LEGAL STANDARDS
    A. Summary Judgment
    FOIA cases are typically decided at summary judgment. See Laverpool v. Dep’t of Hous.
    & Urban Dev., 
    315 F. Supp. 3d 388
    , 390 (D.D.C. 2018). A court will grant a summary judgment
    motion when “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the
    movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). In FOIA cases, it is the
    defending agency’s burden to prove it has complied with its obligations under the statute. U.S.
    Dep’t of Just. v. Tax Analysts, 
    492 U.S. 136
    , 142 n.3 (1989). To satisfy that burden, the “agency
    must prove that each document that falls within the class requested either has been produced, is
    unidentifiable[,] or is wholly exempt from the Act’s inspection requirements.” Weisberg v. U.S.
    Dep’t of Just., 
    627 F.2d 365
    , 368 (D.C. Cir. 1980). The court may accept as true any uncontested
    factual assertions in the moving party’s affidavits or attachments, provided that that the nonmoving
    party (and in particular a pro se nonmoving party) has “fair notice of the requirements of the
    summary judgment rule” and the “consequences of failing to respond” to a summary judgment
    motion, as well as a “reasonable opportunity to submit” their own evidence in response. Neal v.
    Kelly, 
    963 F.2d 453
    , 456 (D.C. Cir. 1992).
    B. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
    “Exhaustion of administrative remedies is generally required before filing suit in federal
    court so that the agency has an opportunity to exercise its discretion and expertise on the matter
    and to make a factual record to support its decision.” Hidalgo v. FBI, 
    344 F.3d 1256
    , 1258 (D.C.
    Cir. 2003). Because FOIA’s exhaustion requirement is “not a jurisdictional bar to judicial review,”
    an agency’s argument that a FOIA requester has failed to exhaust their administrative remedies is
    generally analyzed under Rule 12(b)(6). Tereshchuk v. Bureau of Prisons, 
    851 F. Supp. 2d 157
    ,
    3
    161 n.5 (D.D.C. 2012); see also Hidalgo, 
    344 F.3d at 1260
     (remanding with instructions to dismiss
    the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to exhaust administrative remedies). That said, if the
    moving party’s motion references matters outside the pleadings, as does the DOJ’s motion in this
    case, a court must treat the motion as one for summary judgment. Yates v. District of Columbia,
    
    324 F.3d 724
    , 725 (D.C. Cir. 2003).
    C. Adequacy of Search
    Under both FOIA and the Privacy Act, agencies have “an obligation . . . to conduct an
    adequate search for responsive records.” 3 Edelman v. SEC, 
    172 F. Supp. 3d 133
    , 144 (D.D.C.
    2016). “An inadequate search for records constitutes an improper withholding” under the
    statute. Schoenman v. FBI, 
    764 F. Supp. 2d 40
    , 45 (D.D.C. 2011). The adequacy of a search is
    determined not by its results, but by the means used to conduct it. Iturralde v. Comptroller of the
    Currency, 
    315 F.3d 311
    , 315 (D.C. Cir. 2003). In assessing the adequacy of an agency’s search,
    “the court may rely on a reasonably detailed affidavit, setting forth the search terms and the type
    of search performed, and averring that all files likely to contain responsive materials . . . were
    searched.” Mobley v. CIA, 
    806 F.3d 568
    , 580–81 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (further stating that such
    affidavits are “accorded a presumption of good faith”).
    D. Adequacy of Disclosures
    Although “FOIA calls for broad disclosure of Government records,” Porup v. CIA, 
    997 F.3d 1224
    , 1235 (D.C. Cir. 2021), an agency may withhold responsive records under any of the
    nine exemptions defined in 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (b). 
    Id.
     To withhold a record, an agency must
    demonstrate both (1) “that the record falls within a FOIA exemption,” and (2) “that the agency
    reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by the exemption.” Machado
    3
    The adequacy of the search for both FOIA and Privacy Act requests are analyzed under the same standard. See
    Chambers v. U.S. Dep’t of Interior, 
    568 F.3d 998
    , 1003 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
    4
    Amadis v. U.S. Dep’t of State, 
    971 F.3d 364
    , 370 (D.C. Cir. 2020). An agency can show an
    exemption applies by “submitting affidavits that [1] describe the justifications for nondisclosure
    with reasonably specific detail, [2] demonstrate that the information withheld logically falls within
    the claimed exemption,” and (3) which are not contradicted by the record or by evidence of bad
    faith. Citizens for Resp. & Ethics in Washington v. U.S. Dep’t of Just., 
    746 F.3d 1082
    , 1088 (D.C.
    Cir. 2014).
    Even if some information in a responsive record is exempt from disclosure, any
    “reasonably segregable information” must be disclosed following redaction of the information that
    is exempt. 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (b). Non-exempt information is not reasonably segregable if it is
    “inextricably intertwined with [the] exempt portions” of a document. Johnson v. Exec. Off. for
    U.S. Att’ys., 
    310 F. 3d 771
    , 776 (D.C. Cir. 2002). An agency may show it has satisfied its disclosure
    obligations by “(1) providing a Vaughn index[4] that adequately describes each withheld document
    and the exemption under which it was withheld; and (2) submitting a declaration attesting that the
    agency released all segregable material.” Nat’l Sec. Couns. v. CIA, 
    960 F. Supp. 2d 101
    , 207
    (D.D.C. 2013). Finally, agencies are entitled to a presumption that they disclosed all reasonably
    segregable material. Sussman v. U.S. Marshals Serv., 
    494 F.3d 1106
    , 1117 (D.C. Cir. 2007).
    III. ANALYSIS
    The Court finds the DOJ’s argument that Emery failed to exhaust his administrative
    remedies is moot, and therefore declines to grant the Motion of Summary Judgment on that
    basis. Instead, the Court grants the DOJ’s Motion on the alternative ground that the FBI fully
    4
    A Vaughn index is a standardized document “created by an agency to assist courts and FOIA requesters when the
    agency claims that responsive documents are exempt from disclosure.” Campaign for Responsible Transplantation
    v. Food & Drug Admin., 
    511 F.3d 187
    , 190 (D.C. Cir. 2007). The index is meant to “describe with reasonable
    specificity the material withheld” and justify why each responsive document is exempt from disclosure under FOIA.
    See King v. U.S. Dep’t of Just., 
    830 F.2d 210
    , 221 (D.C. Cir. 1987). When creating a Vaughn index, “[a]
    withholding agency must describe each document or portion thereof withheld, and for each withholding it must
    discuss the consequences of disclosing the sought-after information.” 
    Id.
     at 223–24 (emphasis omitted).
    5
    complied with the requirements of FOIA and the Privacy Act. Next, the Court denies Emery’s
    Motion to Assess Court Costs because he has not “substantially prevailed” in this litigation.
    A. The DOJ’s argument that Emery failed to exhaust his administrative remedies is
    moot because the FBI’s initial decision was overtaken by new and different in-court
    disclosures.
    FOIA requires a requester to exhaust their administrative remedies regarding an “adverse
    determination made by the agency within its statutorily required administrative process.” Bayala
    v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., Off. of Gen. Couns., 
    827 F.3d 31
    , 36 (D.C. Cir. 2016) (citing 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (a)(6)(A)(i) & (ii)). However, a requester cannot be compelled to administratively
    exhaust an agency decision that is “the byproduct of litigation” (as opposed to “the pre-litigation
    administrative decision-making process”). 
    Id.
     Nor can a requester be compelled to administratively
    exhaust an agency decision that “has been overtaken by new and different in-court disclosures and
    explanations.” 
    Id.
     Accordingly, when an agency contradicts its administrative decision by making
    new, sua sponte disclosures after the commencement of FOIA litigation, any motion to dismiss for
    failure to exhaust administrative remedies—even where that motion would have been meritorious
    prior to the additional disclosures—becomes moot. See 
    id. at 35
    .
    Such is the case here. The FBI initially claimed that it conducted an adequate search of the
    places it would reasonably expect to find the requested records, but was “unable to identify . . .
    records responsive” to Emery’s request. ECF 21-2 at 4. Then, after Emery filed suit, the FBI
    spontaneously conducted a broader search and released new documents. 
    Id.
     In doing so, the FBI
    implicitly abandoned its original position that such documents could not be located, thus
    “render[ing] the propriety of the original agency decision—and any administrative challenges to
    it—an entirely academic question.” Bayala, 827 F.3d at 35. Only after the disclosure of the records
    identified via the FBI’s second search did the DOJ argue the case should be dismissed for failure
    to exhaust the administrative appeal process. ECF 21 at 6-7. But by that point, it was too late. Any
    6
    valid argument that Emery had failed to exhaust his administrative remedies regarding the FBI’s
    original decision had become moot. Therefore, the DOJ’s Motion for Summary Judgment cannot
    be granted on the grounds that Emery failed to exhaust his administrative remedies.
    B. The DOJ’s Motion for Summary Judgment is granted because the FBI discharged
    its obligations under FOIA and the Privacy Act.
    Having rejected the DOJ’s argument that Emery failed to exhaust his administrative
    remedies, the Court instead grants summary judgment to Defendants on the grounds that the FBI’s
    search and disclosure of records were adequate.
    1. The FBI’s search was adequate.
    In support of its claim that it conducted an adequate search, the DOJ submitted a seventy-
    page declaration from Michael Seidel, Section Chief of the Record and Information Dissemination
    Section of the FBI. ECF 21-2. The Seidel declaration describes both the pre- and in-litigation
    searches for Emery’s records. With regard to the former, the declaration states that the FBI
    conducted a search of its Central Records System and the manual indices at the Jackson field
    office, but was unable to identify any records responsive to Emery’s requests. Id. at 13. With regard
    to the latter search, the declaration states that “[d]uring the litigation stage” of the request, the FBI
    conducted a new search, this time including the manual indices of the St. Louis and Kansas City
    field offices. Id. The second search, unlike the first, resulted in the identification of responsive
    records. Id. Seidel states that, given the nature of Emery’s request, he is unaware of any other
    locations that would be reasonably likely to contain responsive records. Id. Emery does not contest
    Seidel’s declaration. Because Emery was given explicit notice of the requirements of the summary
    judgment standard and the consequences of failing to respond with evidence of his own, ECF 23,
    the Court treats the facts set forth in Seidel’s declaration as conceded. See Neal, 
    963 F.2d at 456
    .
    7
    In responding to a FOIA request, an agency is required only “to conduct a search
    reasonably calculated to uncover all relevant documents.” Porup, 997 F.3d at 1237. An agency
    can show that it has satisfied that standard “by providing a reasonably detailed affidavit, setting
    forth the search terms and the type of search performed, and averring that all files likely to contain
    responsive materials were searched.” Id. The Seidel affidavit more than satisfies that requirement.
    It describes in some detail the nature of the locations that were searched, as well as the tools used
    to locate responsive records in those locations. ECF 21-2 at 6–11. Seidel also avers that “[t]he FBI
    has searched all locations/systems reasonably likely to contain records responsive to [Emery’s]
    request.” Id. at 13. Those sworn assertions are sufficient to carry the DOJ’s burden as to its search
    terms and methodology. Accordingly, the Court agrees with the DOJ that the search for records
    responsive to Emery’s request was adequate.
    2. The FBI’s disclosure of non-exempt records was adequate.
    At this point, the DOJ’s arguments with regard to the Privacy Act and FOIA diverge.
    Regarding the Privacy Act, the DOJ argues that the FBI is exempt from any requirement to disclose
    records pertaining to criminal investigations under that statute. ECF 21 at 7. Regarding FOIA, the
    DOJ invokes the following exemptions to justify the records that were withheld by the FBI: 6
    (personal privacy), 7(C) (personal privacy in law enforcement records), 7(D) (confidential
    sources), and 7(E) (techniques and procedures). The DOJ further contends that the FBI released
    all reasonably segregable portions of those records that contained exempt information.
    In evaluating whether the FBI’s disclosures were adequate under the Privacy Act and
    FOIA, the Court again assumes the truth of the uncontested factual assertions in the Seidel
    declaration, ECF 21-2 at 1. See Neal, 
    963 F.2d at 456
    . The Court concludes that the FBI satisfied
    the disclosure requirements of both the Privacy Act and FOIA.
    8
    a. The Privacy Act
    As a general matter, “the Privacy Act grants individuals the right to access agency records
    that pertain to them.” Majid v. FBI, 
    245 F. Supp. 3d 63
    , 69 (D.D.C. 2017). However, the statute
    explicitly allows law enforcement agencies to “promulgate rules to exempt criminal records
    systems from these individual access . . . provisions, if the records contain information compiled
    for the purpose of a criminal investigation.” 
    Id. at 69
    . Such records include “reports of informants
    and investigators, and [those] associated with an identifiable individual.” 
    Id.
     at 69–70 (quoting 5
    U.S.C. § 552a(j)(2)(B)). The FBI has exercised that authority to exempt its Central Records
    System from the individual access provisions of the Privacy Act. Id. at 70 (citing 
    28 C.F.R. § 16.96
    ). The FBI is a law enforcement agency that compiled the responsive records in this case
    in the course of the investigation of several individuals for potential violations of federal criminal
    law. ECF 21-2 at 14–15. Emery does not contest that fact. Therefore, the Privacy Act does not
    require the FBI to disclose any of the responsive records in this case.
    b. FOIA Exemptions 6 and 7(C)
    FOIA Exemption 6 provides that the disclosure requirements of FOIA do not apply to
    “personnel and medical files and similar files[5] the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
    unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (b)(6). Exemption 7(C), more
    specifically, exempts from disclosure “records or information compiled for law enforcement
    purposes” when disclosure “could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion
    of personal privacy.” 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (b)(7)(C) (emphasis added). Each exception requires the court
    5
    Despite its use of the phrase “personnel and medical files and similar files,” the applicability of Exemption 6 does
    not “turn upon the label of the file which contains damaging information.” U.S. Dep’t of State v. Washington Post
    Co., 
    456 U.S. 595
    , 601 (1982). Exemption 6 also exempts the personal information contained in any non-personnel
    or medical file—such as names, addresses, and social security numbers—if the release of that information would
    threaten the individual’s privacy. See Carter v. U.S. Dep’t of Com., 
    830 F.2d 388
    , 391 (D.C. Cir. 1987).
    9
    to balance the privacy interests of the affected individuals against the public interest served by
    disclosure. See U.S. Dep’t of Def. v. Fed. Lab. Rels. Auth., 
    510 U.S. 487
    , 496 n.6 (1994). The Court
    finds that the case law supports the FBI’s use of Exemptions 6 and 7(C).
    Here, the FBI, citing Exemptions 6 and 7(C), withheld the names and identifying
    information of individuals who provided information to the FBI, third parties mentioned in an
    investigation, FBI Special Agents and professional staff, local law enforcement personnel, and
    non-FBI employees who assisted in an investigation. ECF 21-2 at 18–26. According to the Seidel
    declaration, the FBI withheld the names and identifying information of those individuals because,
    after independently reviewing each piece of information, the FBI could not identify any public
    interest in the disclosure of that information. Id. at 19, 20. Emery provides no reason why the
    public interest in disclosure of these records outweighs the FBI’s asserted interest in protecting the
    safety of government personnel and the anonymity on which those who share information with the
    FBI rely. Thus, the Court finds that the FBI properly invoked Exemptions 6 and 7(C).
    c. FOIA Exemption 7(D)
    FOIA Exemption 7(D) provides that the disclosure requirements of FOIA do not apply to
    “records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes” that “could reasonably be
    expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source” and, “in the case of a record or
    information compiled by criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal
    investigation . . . , information furnished by a confidential source.” 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (b)(7)(D).
    Exemption 7(D) “requires no balancing of public and private interests.” Roth v. U.S. Dep’t of Just.,
    
    642 F.3d 1161
    , 1184 (D.C. Cir. 2011). If the “production of criminal investigative records could
    reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source or information furnished
    10
    by such a source, that ends the matter, and the agency is entitled to withhold the records under
    Exemption 7(D).” Gilliam v. U.S. Dep’t of Just., 
    236 F. Supp. 3d 259
    , 266 (D.D.C. 2017).
    The FBI is a law enforcement agency that compiled the responsive records in the course of
    its investigation of several individuals for potential violations of federal criminal law. ECF 21-2
    at 14–15. Pursuant to Exemption 7(D), the FBI withheld the names of confidential sources, their
    identifying information and the information they provided, and the “symbol number” of a
    confidential source. 
    Id. at 27
    , 29–30. Any of that information, if disclosed, could reasonably be
    expected to reveal the identity of a source or the information furnished by a source. Emery does
    not contest these facts. Therefore, the Court concludes that the FBI properly invoked Exemption
    7(D).
    d. FOIA Exemption 7(E)
    FOIA Exemption 7(E) provides that the disclosure requirements of FOIA do not apply to
    “records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes” that “would disclose techniques
    and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines
    for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected
    to risk circumvention of the law.” 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (b)(7)(E). Exemption 7(E) requires only that the
    agency “demonstrate logically how the release of the requested information might create a risk of
    circumvention of the law.” Blackwell v. FBI, 
    646 F.3d 37
    , 42 (D.C. Cir. 2011).
    Again, the FBI is a law enforcement agency that compiled the responsive records in the
    course of its investigation of several individuals for potential violations of federal criminal law.
    ECF 21-2 at 14–15. The FBI applied Exemption 7(E) to protect non-public investigative
    techniques and procedures from public disclosure. 
    Id.
     at 32–34. The information that was withheld
    related to the collection and analysis of information, including surveillance techniques. 
    Id.
     If
    11
    publicly known, those techniques and procedures could potentially be circumvented by criminals
    to evade law enforcement. 
    Id.
     at 32–34. Emery does not contest these facts. Accordingly, the Court
    concludes that the FBI properly invoked Exemption 7(E).
    e. Segregability
    FOIA requires that, even if “some materials are exempt from disclosure, any reasonably
    segregable information from those documents must be disclosed after redaction of the exempt
    information[,] unless the exempt portions are inextricably intertwined with exempt portions.”
    Johnson, 310 F. 3d at 776. An agency may show that it has complied with this requirement by “(1)
    providing a Vaughn index that adequately describes each withheld document and the exemption
    under which it was withheld; and (2) submitting a declaration attesting that the agency released all
    segregable material.” Nat’l Sec. Couns., 960 F. Supp. 2d at 207. The FBI has successfully met that
    burden here by submitting a Vaughn index, ECF 21-2 at 57–64, as well as a sworn declaration that
    it carefully reviewed the responsive records “on a line-by-line and page-by-page basis to identify
    reasonably segregable, non-exempt information” and determined that there is no additional
    information that “may be reasonably segregated and released without disclosing information that
    warrants protection under a FOIA exemption.” Id. at 13. Emery has offered no evidence to
    contradict that declaration, to show bad faith on the part of the FBI, or to rebut the presumption
    that the agency disclosed all reasonably segregable material. See Sussman, 
    494 F.3d at 1117
    .
    Accordingly, the Court concludes that the FBI released all reasonably non-segregable information
    from the responsive records and grants the DOJ’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
    C. Plaintiff’s Motion to Assess Court Costs to Defendant is denied because Emery has
    not “substantially prevailed” in this litigation.
    Also pending before the Court is Emery’s Motion to Assess Court Costs to the
    Respondents. ECF 20. In that motion, Emery complains that he was “forced” to file this lawsuit to
    12
    compel the DOJ to comply with his FOIA request. Id. at 1. In Emery’s view, since the FBI
    produced additional documents after the commencement of this litigation, he should be treated as
    a de facto prevailing party and awarded reasonable costs. Id. The Court disagrees.
    FOIA authorizes a court, at its discretion, to shift fees where a complainant has
    “substantially prevailed” in litigation. 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (a)(4)(E)(ii). A plaintiff has substantially
    prevailed when he has “obtained relief” in one of two ways: “(I) a judicial order, or an enforceable
    written agreement or consent decree; or (II) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the
    agency, if the complainant's claim is not insubstantial.” 
    Id.
     To prevail under the second prong (the
    so-called “catalyst theory,” Grand Canyon Tr. v. Bernhardt, 
    947 F.3d 94
    , 96 (D.C. Cir. 2020)), a
    plaintiff must show that “it is more probable than not” that “the litigation caused the agency to
    release the documents obtained.” 
    Id. at 97
    . In addition, a plaintiff cannot recover fees under the
    second prong if the agency can show that its initial refusal was “correct as a matter of law.” Brayton
    v. Off. of the U.S. Trade Rep., 
    641 F.3d 521
    , 525 (D.C. Cir. 2011).
    Emery has not prevailed under the first prong of 
    5 U.S.C. § 552
    (a)(4)(E)(ii). On the
    contrary, the Court today grants summary judgment in favor of the FBI. As for the second prong,
    Emery offers no evidence that his initiation of the litigation caused the FBI to release the additional
    documents. Nor can the Court conclude that the FBI’s initial refusal was incorrect as a matter of
    law, considering that Emery failed to exhaust his administrative remedies with regard to that
    decision, thus denying the agency a full opportunity to adjudicate its refusal within the bounds of
    the administrative process. Therefore, Emery’s Motion to Assess Court Costs is denied.
    13
    IV. CONCLUSION
    Because the FBI’s search was adequate, the DOJ’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF
    21, is GRANTED. Because Emery is not the prevailing party on any legal claim, his Motion to
    Assess Court Costs to the Respondents, ECF 20, is DENIED.
    A separate order accompanies this opinion.
    SO ORDERED.
    Dated: October 31, 2022
    Jia M. Cobb
    U.S. District Court Judge
    14