Karantsalis v. Department of the Navy, No. 1:2012cv23469 - Document 12 (S.D. Fla. 2013)
Court Description: ORDER Granting 7 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 4/24/2013. (jw)
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Karantsalis v. Department of the Navy Doc. 12 U NI TED STA TES D I STRICT CO U RT SO U TH ERN D I STR I O F FLO RI CT DA M I M ID I A VISIO N CA SE NO .1223469- V - I G CI K N THEO DORE D .KAM N TSA LI S, Pl ntf , ai if D EPA RTM ENT OF TH E NA VY , Dee f ndant . O RD ER G R AN TI G DEFEN DANT ' M OTION FO R SUM M A RY JU DG M EN T N S TH I M A TTER com e bef e t Cour upon D ef nts M oton f Sum m a y S s or he t enda ' i or r J g e ( /7 ,fld M a c 27, 3. ud m nt DE / ) ie r h 201 Upon r v e o t e r c r t Cou tfn t t e i w f h e o d, he r i ds ha t M oton s d begr ed. he i houl ant L BACKGROUND Pl ntf Kar nt a i s ks di cl ur under t Fr edom of I or a i A c ai i f a s ls ee s os e he e nf m ton t ($ A' ,5 U. C.j 55 ,ofi c p oft i e tgai e rpor,i ldi pr ba e a d i FO1 ' ) S. 2 t o y he nv si tv e t ncu ng o bl n a f t fndi , of a ac ual i ngs Na A- E Co s i 1 j tt t ca h d i o a a a t n vy 7 rar 1 e ha r s e nt n p rme t c e 'i Alme ,Ca io n aon Fe r r 7,1 .( mpl,! 1 DE #1 .Plitf i omplx' n a da lf r i b uay 973 Co . , ) an if s a a a e c l ain a fe ln ej r ls.1 .a ! 3 . sCo an alge ta h n c d mi i ra nd rea c ounait (d t ) Hi mplit le s h t e br frtr q e t d a c py oft rpor o J y 1 201 (#.a ! 6 .No m al wh n a is e u se o he e t n ul 5, 0. f t ) r ly, e n a aton ac dent occur ,t N avy conduct t o s r t i r es a r tcom pl t d vi i ci s he s w epa a e nquii ' epor . ee Dockets.Justia.com pu s n t t e M a loft e J ge Ad ae Ge r l(tAGM AN' a a a ai n rua t o h nua h ud voc t ne a û J ' nd n vi to ) miha r po t ( te s n De , J DE /7- ) s p e r. Pat r o c.I 6, / 1 . On Se t mbe 29 2 0,t e Ofi e oft J ge Ad a e Ge e a (i AG' p e r , 01 h fc he ud voc t d n r l ç OJ ' ) s Pl ntf a lter i ca i t t upon se chi t Natonal Recor Cent i ent ai if e t ndi tng ha ar ng he i ds er n t S ta ,M aylnd, i he e ie r or i m i i a pr um e l t' ( #7- ,p,6 . uilnd r a 1 t ntr ec d s ssng nd es d os ' DE 2 ) . Pl ntf di nota alt a ai i f d ppe he dequa oft s se ch wihi sxt days,as advi ed by t cy hi ar tn iy s he lte . I t e t r nsead, Pl ntf s it a he FO I r ques ed t t OJ G by em ai on ai if ubm ted not r A e t o he A l Fe r a y 2 201 ( te s De . ! 1 .OJ a i i o me Pli ifo M a c 6, b u r 8, 2. Pat ron c, 0) AG gan nf r d antf n r h 201 t t r d was m i sng and pr um ed l t 2 hat he ecor si es os .On t s occason,Pl ntf tm el hi i ai if i y a al a on A prl24,201 t OJ G ' O fi ofG e alLii ton D i s on is d ppe ed, nd i 2 he A S fce ner tga i vii s ue a fnal de er i i de ng Pl ntf a i t m naton nyi ai ifs ppeal bec e t s r h f t J aus he ea c or he AGM AN r po twa de me a e ua e (d. t J11 . e r s e d d q t .1 a ! ) Me anwhie,t Navy had notl l he ooked f t a aton m iha r t On M ay 30, or he vi i s p epor . 201 t NavalH it y and H e iage Com m a r er ed Pl ntf sJ y 1 201 r 2, he sor rt nd ef r ai if ul 5, 0 eques t t t Na l S f t Ce e .(d a ! 1 .On J ne 28 201 t Na lSa ey Ce t r o he va a ey ntr 1 . t 2) u , 2, he va f t n e r eas d a r t ver i of t a a i m iha r t l m i t t t r t el e edac ed s on he vi ton s p epor ,c ai ng ha he edac ed i o mai n wa e e fo d s l u eu e 5U. C.j 5 2( ( ) 6) ( nf r to s x mpt r m icos r nd r S. j 5 b)5 -( . Comp1, t1 .! 3; Patron De . ! 1 . aitf tme y a pe ld t pa ta wihh d n oft r po t a te s c, 3) Pl n if i l p ae he ril t ol i g he e r, nd t ta a wa d nid o Aug t1 , 1 ( te s De .! 21 . ha ppe l s e e n us 5 20 2. Pat ron c, ) The above syl d ac i was fl on Sept be 24,2012.On M ar 27,201 -t e ton ied em r ch 3, De e da fld is M o i n f r Su ay J gme t ( /7 .Pli tf d d n fl a f n nt ie t to o mm r ud n DE / ) a n if i ot ie 'TheOJAG' daabas i ca ed t NatonalRecor Cent ast l ton oft JAGM AN r t S t e ndi t he i ds er he oca i he epor. Res pons t s i M oton but i t ad fl d a brefCr s M oton f Sum m ar J e o ad i ns e ie i os i or y udgm ent o endants M oton, t Co twilte tPli tf ' i he ur l r a a n ifs ( /8 . Though nota Response t D ef DE / )2 Cr s M oton as s os - i uch i r viw i Def ndant s M oton i t lght m os f vor bl t n e e ng e ' i n he i t a a e o Pl ntf . ai if I .LEGAL STANDARD l Su r j dg nti a prpraewhee t pla n n s ppo tn maeil mmay u me s p o it r he e digsa d u rig tras es a i h t tt r i no genui i s ast any m at r a f tand t tt m ovi pa t i t bls ha he e s ne s ue o e i l ac ha he ng ry s e tte t j dg nta amatroflw.Se Fe R.Ci P.5 ,Ceoe Cop.v Catet nild o u me s te a e d. v. 6. ltx r . r t, 47 U. 31 3 2 ( 98 .i oft prn i l r s soft s ml r j gme r e 7 S. 7, 2 1 6) ( one he ic pa pu po e he u na y ud nt ul i t iol t a dipos off t l uns s o s a e nd s e ac ualy uppored cl m s ordef e ' Cel e 477 U . t ai ens s.' ot x, S. at323-24. The m ovi pary bea s t bur ofpoi i t t pa1 oft r cor t t ng t r he den ntng o he 4 he e d ha s st abs nce ofa genui i s ofm a eralf t See Adi s v S. Kres d:Co. how he e ne s ue t i ac . cke . H s , 398U. 1 1 7 ( 97 ) Ale v T onFo s . . 1 1F.d 6 64 ( 1h Ci.1 7 . S. 44, 5 1 0 ; ln . ys od ,J , 2 3 42, 6 1 t r 99 ) nc O nce t m ovi pa t esabls t a ence of a ge ne isue of m a eral f t t he ng ry t ihes he bs nui s t i ac , he bur n s fs t t nonm ovi pa t t go beyond t pl ngs a des gna e ûs fc de hit o he ng ry o he eadi nd i t ûpecii f t s i t t e i a genui is f t i .' Cel e 477 U . a 324. ac s how ng hat her s ne s ue or ral' otx, S. t FOI cams g neal s oud be r s v d a t s mmay j g nt sa e. A li e r l h l y e ole t he u r ud me tg Mic u e Trb o ndan o o i v tdStts 51 F. 1 35,1 3 ( 1h Ci. c os k e ie fl i s fFlrda .Unie ae , 6 3d 2 24 1 t r 2 08 .$g n a n y i e ildt s 0 ) $A) ge c s ntte o ummayj g n i nomaeilfcsae i ds ut r ud me t f tra a t r n ip e a i i dem onsr es t teac docum entt f lsw ihi t cl s r nd f t tat ha h hat a l t n he as eques e eihe ha td t r s 7Ther n, Pl ntf sat ,wihoutcii t a f t i t r d,t çDef ndanthasf l t ei ai if t es t tng o ny ac s n he ecor hat s e aied o d mon taeta Ex mp i 5 s oul a pl .. . ( /8 . an ifd sn ta rs Dee a ts e srt h t e ton h d p y .' DE / ) Plitf oe o dde s fnd n ' ' wih digofs i onnai un rEx mpton6. f nd n fld aRes ons ( #1 )t Plitf s t hol n ome nf ton de e i Dee a t ie p e DE 0 o an if Cr M oton on Aprl22,201 oss i i 3. been pr oduced ...or i w holy e s l xemptf om t Acts i pec i r r m ent .'Bonil r he ' ns ton equi e s' la U. De 'o u tc ,79 F.Su p. 1 25,1 29 ( D.Fl.2 11 (ntr lqu ain S. p t fl sie 8 p 2d 3 3 S. a 0 ) i ena otto ma ksomi e ) The go r m e ma us a fd vis o d c a a i s t me t i bu d n. r t d. t ve n nt y e fi a t r e lr ton o e t r e s Mi ccosuk Tri 51 F. a 1 ee be, 6 3d t 258.Suc docum ent ar H h s e accor ded a pr s n i of e un pton go d fih. Fl rd I kr ntAdv c y Ct. P tlSe .Age y,3 F.S p.2 o at ' o ia mml a ' o ac r :Na ' c nc 80 up d 1 3 1 43( D. a 20 ) 3 2, 3 S. Fl. 05 . 1 1 DI 1 . SCUSSI ON l r ewi t pl adi bef e t Cour and t D ecl a i of Robbi n evi ng he e ngs or he t he ar ton n Pate s head of t D ef nda ' Chi of N a l Oper tons Prvac and Fr edom of t r on, he e nts ef va ai , i y e I or aton Act Executon Of i t Cour cons der t t ngs. Fis , t Cour nf m i i fce, he t i s wo hi r t he t de er i t m nes whe he Def ndant s s ch f Pl ntf r t r e ' ear or ai ifs equesed docum ent was t s r as e onabl as a m ate of lw .Sec e tr a ond,t Cour eval es whet t w ihhel m at r al he t uat her he t d ei w ase m ptpur ua t FOI Exe ptons 5 or6. xe s nt o A m i The a e y u n whih a FOI r q s i ma e b a st bu de ofç ho i gj g nc po c A e ue t s d e r he r n s wln s be yond a m a e i doubt t ral . t t i ha conduc ed a s r h r onabl c c a ed t ha t s t ea c eas y al ul t o uncovera lr e ntdocum e s.' M i l el va nt ' ccosukee Tri 51 F. a 1 be, 6 3d t 248.Reas onabl nes i e ss l pe e tu n t cic tnc s o t c s . T u t v De ' o a e 8 F. 5 , k nd n po he r umsa e f he a e' r it . p t fst t , 97 2d 40 de ' 52 ( . 4 D C. 1 0 .The i e r h ne d o y be r a o b e i doe n ha e t b 99 ) l a c e nl s e s na l ; t s ot v o e e xhausi ' NIler v. U S.De ' o St e 7 F. 1 ,1 tve.' il p t f at, 79 2d 378 383 (t Ci.2 ) Th 8h r 985 . e Pa t s D eclr ton desc i s i de ai t r as ter on a ai rbe n t l he e onabl ef ors t Def e f t hat endant m ade t o l t t docum ent Pl ntf r oca e he s ai if eques ed.M or t eover whe e Pl ntf s FO I r , r ai i f A eque tonl s y as ked f ka c or $ opy of t fnali s i i r he i nve tgatve epor,'D ef t' endant a t tempt t l at bot ed o oc e h t J GM A N i s i i r t a t a aton m i ha r port The docum ent he A nve tgatve epor nd he vi i s p e . s Pl ntf s ai i f oughtw er a t tm e,al os f t yea s ol and ha bee r oc ed atl s e, t he i m t ory r d d n el at ea t once ea Def ch. endant s es f l l t t a aton m iha r por and,unde t e ucc s uly oca ed he vi i s p e t r hes cic s a r um t nces Def nts ef or s t l t t m i i JAG M AN r t w e e , enda ' f t o oca e he ssng epor r r as e onabl Se M i e. e ccosukee Tri 51 F. at1 be, 6 3d 248;M il 779 F. 1 ler, 2d 378. Pl itf a s s e j i ilr viw ofDe e da ' wih di c ran i o mai n an if lo e ks ud ca e e f n nts t hol ng e ti nf r to fom t a a i m iha r t unde FO I Exe ptons 5 and 6,t o of FO l ' ni r he vi ton s p epor r A m i w A s ne exem ptons W ih t e exe ptons Congr sr ogni ... ha publc dicl ur i not i . t hes m i , es ec zed t t i s os e s a wa i t pu i it r s . C. v Si , 1U. l 1 6 ( 985 . we rt l ys n he blc n e e t' LA. . ms 47 S. 59, 6 -67 1 ) Ho ve he ' exem ptons a e not t have t efect of s um i t s at e' polcy goal of i r o he f ubs ng he t ut s i t a par r ns ency a gove nm entaccount biiy. nd r a lt The Pater on Decl r ton s at t ta1 r s bl s gr t s a a i t es ha 1 ea ona y e egabl f t i or aton e ac ual nf m i i t r po' wa p o d d. ( te on De , ! 1 . Ho ve , u r Exe to 5 n he e l s r vi e Pat s t c. 4) we r nde mp i n , sat ent by wines esa opi onsofm edi of i sand ot eval or ,t m iha t em s t s nd ni cal fcer her uat s he s p boad a e o s r we e wi l (d. a ! 1 -1 ) De e a t c ams t t t s r nd nd r e s r t d. 1 t ! 4 6 . f nd n li ha he e hhe m a eral a e pr ect d by t M ac n prviege a t delbe a i pr sprviege.l t i s r ot e he hi i l nd he i r tve oces i l n Ma hi v Zu k r,31 F. 3 ( C.Ci.1 3) t c r notd t a arc a h s f t c n . c e t 6 2d 36 D. r 96 , he ou t e h t i r s a ey i tga or c d not com pelw ines t s i ony and t r i on vol a iy s ed nves i t s oul t s e tm hus eled unt r l har i onua i I a 339.A ccor ngl a i onuaton f om prva e pari w asprvieged, nf ton. d t di y, ny nf i r i t tes i l e n onc i t hands oft gover e .1 ç-'e prviege ext ve e n he he nm nt d. i h f il ends t a concl i o ny usons t t m i be bas i any f hi on s h prvieged i onnaton.A l o,a r ogni ha ght ed n as on uc i l nf i s ec zed prviege a t hes t a pori of t r t r l tng A i For de i atons or il tac o ny tons he epor etec i r ce lber i r com m endatons as t polci t t s d be pur ued. 1 ;s alo Unied St e v. e i o i es ha houl s ' d. ee s ' t at s We e Aic a Cop.465U. 7 2,7 ( 98 )(ç e o a win s e t s e kf ly b r rrh r , S. 9 95 1 4 û nc urge te s s o p a ul To and fankl t a e nots or and r ve an as ur nce t t rs at e s w ilnotbe r y, hey r w n ecei s a hat hei t em nt l us d f r a pu pos ot r t n a cde p e n i n.) Th Pa tr o De lr to e o ny r e he ha c i nt r ve to ' . e te s n c a a in ' i cat t onl w ines s a em ent a opi ons oft e i ve i t e ua i ndi es hat y t s t t s nd ni hos nvol d n he val ton w e e r ct Thes ar cove e by t M achi prviege a t need notbe di cl e r eda ed. e e rd he n i l nd hus s os d ptr uant t Exempton ls o i A cc di y, t Cour ne not c de D ef ndants or ngl he t ed onsi r e ' aler tve ar entf exe pton unde t delber i pr sprviege. t na i gum or m i r he i atve oces i l Ad ton ly,u e FOI Exe i 6, f n ntwih l û nq me ,sg t r s dii a l nd r A mpton De e da t he d t a s i nau e , l i tal addr s , t e nii s, es es el phone num be s i vi s s dr r , ndi dual qua ons or unis s al s urt t , oci ec iy num be s a s m iar i or aton perai ng t boar m em ber eval t s endor e s r , nd i l nf m i t ni o d s, ua or , sr, a i vi uaso he t a t pio ivol d i t e miha '(d.a ! 1 . se mpton nd ndi d l t r h n he lt n ve n h s p. 1 t 7) Thi xe i ' pr ect a i tprvac i r i when t publc bene i does not out ei t cos t ot s ga ns i y ntusons he i ft w gh he t o t i vi a.O c o te Ca t Colae a Cou s lNo te n Re o o orda v he ndi du l s e f h pi al ltr l n e, rh r gin fFl i . De 'o sie 331F.d 79 ,8 ( 1h Ci.20 3) TheSu e Co r ha gi n t s p t flu tc , 3 9 02 1 t r 0 . prme u t s ve hi e mpto br a s o .Se US.De 'o at v Wa higtn Pos Co. 45 U. 5 , xe in o d c pe e p t fst e . s n o t , 6 S. 95 59 9 -603( 98 . saut ' pu p ei h di g r me t la ton a c ntbl t t e 1 2) The t t e s r os n ol ng ove n n a c i c ou a e o h peopl di not f t r by di l ur of i or aton a e ks os e ed sc os e nf m i bout prvat cii ens t i i e tz hat s a um ul ed i varous gove nm e al fl but t t r veal ltl or not ng about a cc at n i r nt ies ha e s ite hi n a nc s o c nd t' US.De ' o J siev Re re sCommitef rFr e m o ge y' wn o uc. ' p t f u tc . po tr te o e do f Pr s ,48 U. 7 77 ( 98 . epe s na i f r to t a De e a twihh l fo e s 9 S. 49, 3 1 9) Th ro l n o mai n h t f nd n t e d r m Pl ntf i t t t tExem pton 6 prvieges. ai if s he ype ha i i l 6 I .CONCLUS ON V I A c di y, a t ca ef cons der i and t Cour be ng ot wie f l cor ngl fer r ul i aton he t i her s uly advied,i i O RD ER ED ,ADJUD G ED,a DECREED t t D ef nts M oton f s ts nd ha enda ' i or Summ a y J me t ( #7) be a i he e GRANTED. Thus i i f t r r udg n DE , nd s r by, , t s urhe O RD ER ED ,AD JU DG ED ,a DECR EED t tPl ntf Cr s M oton f Sum m ar nd ha ai i fs os i or y J g e ( #8 b ,a i he e y,DENI Th Clr s lCLOSE t sc s .Al ud m nt DE ) e nd s r b ED. e e k hal hi a e I pe ng m otonsar D EN I asm oot ndi i e ED . D ON E AN D O RD ER ED i Cham ber a t J e Lawr n s t he am s ence K i Feder l ng a J tc Buidi and Unied St e Courhouse M i m i Fl i t s 24t day of Aprl usi e l ng t at s t , a , orda, hi h i, 2013. ES LA W REN CE K I G N I TED STATES D I STRI J CT U SO UTHERN DI STRI OF FL CT Cc:AI Couns ofRecord I el E DA
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