Petition for Writ of Certiorari — Wrenn v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
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IN THE
Supreme Court, U.S
FILED
JUN 25 1991
FFICE OF THE CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
OCTOBER TERM, 1990
NO
w=. -
CURTIS L. WRENW
P. QO. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603,
Petitioner.
vs
U. S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, ET AL.,
Respondents.
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
SECOND CIRCUIT
7
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
This is a case in which the respondents
obtained dismissal of petitioner's claims at
the pre-trial level. If this Court grants
the petition for certiorari, it will have to
decide whether the petitioner's rights,
privileges and immunities were abridged by
the lower courts’ decisions. More
specifically:
1. Whether the dismissal of the
petitioner's FOIA claims, without examining
the records compiled of him by the responsi-
ble federal agencies, violated his pro-
cedural due process and/or property right.
2. Whether the imposition of sanctions
against the petitioner, allegedly because
his FOIA claims were frivolous, without
articulating the basis for his claims and/or
stating specifically how it decided the
appeal was frivolous, violated his rights
under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Questions Presented for Review.......... i
ee a ii
ee bg)” iii
Jurisdictional Statement............... iv
Conetitutional Provieions.............6. Vv
Statement of the Case..........e eevee i~2Z
Reasons for Granting the Writ......... 3-7
EET TTR CETTE REE 8-9
ii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Christianburg Garment Co. v. EEOC
434 U.S. 412, 423, 96 BS. CE... sees ensas 3
Doe v. Busbee, ‘(CA GA 1982), 684
ee eee a a eee ee ae ee eee ee ee 2-3
Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S.
422, 426, 102 SB. CE. CIiSBS).. . ccc nccvnss 2
State Teachers Assoc. v. Garland Independ-
ent School District, Sup. Ct. Case No 87-
1759 (Mar 1989), Cert to Sth CA......... 4
U.S. Dept. of Justice v. Reporters, Sup. Ct
Case No 87-1379 (Mar 1989)........2500.. 5
iii
JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT
The jurisdiction of this Court is
invoked under Title 28, United States Code,
Section 1254(¢(1), 1651 and 1915.
Jurisdiction is also invoked under the
Coustitution and laws of the United States,
including but not limited to the First,
Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments and the
Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act,in
that the decisions of the lower courts, if
permitted to stand, will deprive the
petitioner of procedural due process rights,
right of freedom of speech and the right of
access to information compiled of and about
him by agencies of the USA.
The jurisdiction of this Court is also
invoked to review the actions of the lower
courts, in that they have rendered decisions
which if not reversed by this Court will
contravene prior decisions of the Court and
will invalidate a Congressional intent.
Also, the decisions are contrary to
decisions of this Court and the other courts
of appeals.
iv
+ = allalall
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS INVOLVED
United States Constitution, Amendment I:
Congress shall make no law...
abridging the freedom of speech ...;
or the right of the people to peaceably
to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
United States Constitution, Amendment V:
Nor shall any person ... be deprived
of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law...
United States Constitution, Amendment XIV:
Nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection
of the laws.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
This case, which had its origin in the
petitioner's requests for information,
records and files compiled by federal
agencies, presents an example of abuse of
discretion by the lower courts. More
specifically the petitioner:
1. Requested records and docu-
ments compiled of him by federal agencies,
pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA). The agencies refused to provide the
records and information requested.
2. After exhausting the required FOIA
administrative remedies, filed the complaint
at App F as provided by 5 USC 552(a) (4) (B),
and after the district court did not comply
with 5 USC 552(a)¢(4)(B) filed his motion for
summary judgment ‘App G).
3. Appealed the decision of the
district court which granted judgment in
favor of the defendants ‘App H,I).
4. Presents this petition for writ of
certiorari as part of his continuing efforts
to bring to an end the practice of the lower
courts of depriving him of the rights,
privileges and immunitites secured by the
Constitution and laws of the United States.
In the case at bar, the courts have either
issued threats against the petitioner or
have imposed sanctions on him for asking for
records, documents and things which were
compiled of him by various federal agencies.
Despite the fine and threats, the lower
courts have refused to articulate the basis
for deciding that the petitioner's FOIA
claims were somewhow frivolous. This is
particularly pertinent because all the
petitioner has requested are records com-
piled of him by the responsible federal
agencies.
REASONS FOR GRANTING WRIT
1. The denial of petitioner's FOIA
claims contravenes the Constitution and laws
of the United States including, but not
limited to, the First, Fifth and Fourteenth
Amendments and the Congressional intent of
the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552).
Moreover, the issuance of threats and the
imposition of sanctions in the form of
attorney fees, are in conflict with the
civil Rights Attorney's Fees Award Act and
decisions of this Court.
2. The district court dismissed
appe*lant's FOIA claims allegedly because he
did not state a cause of action. The FOIA
requests submitted by the petitioner to
various federal agencies were for records,
documents and files compiled of him by those
agencies. The complaint in the district
court was filed pursuant to 5 USC
552 (a) (4) (B) which provides in relevant
parts that: “In such a case the court shall
determine the matter de novo, and may
4
examine the contents of such agency records
in camera to determine whether such records
Or any part thereof shall be witheld ..." On
the basis of these provisions, the
petitioner submits he had “stated a cause of
action.” Ina similar case this Court held
that “a cause of action is a form of
“property” that the state may not take away
without due process of law." See Logan v.
Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 428, 102
S.Ct. 1148, 1153 71 L.Ed.2d 265 (1982).
3. The decision of the district court
was appealed to the court of appeals. The
latter dismissed the appeal and imposed
sanctions on the petitioner, because
allegedly the appeal was frivolous.
4. The court of appeals imposed a
$500.00 fine on the petitioner, allegedly
because the appeal was frivolous. The court
cited no facts, or lack thereof, or any
information which it used as a basis for
deciding the appeal was frivolous. The
decision is in conflict with Doe v. Busbee,
4 j
(CA GA 1982), 684 F.2d 1375, where the court
held that “Attorney's fees may be awarded
under Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Award to
prevailing defendants only if plaintiff's
Claim was frivolous, unreasonable or without
foundation. " This Court similarly held in
Christianburg Garment Co. v. EEOC. 434 U.S.
412, 423, 98 S.Ct. 694, 701, 54 L.Ed.2d 648
(1978), that such an award (‘attorney's fees)
must be based on a finding that the
plaintiff's charge was “frivolous,
unreasonable or without foundation.” The
court of appeals render no “findings” in the
case while imposing the fine against the
petitioner allegedly for filing a “frivolous
appeal."
5S. The imposition of sanctions by the
court of appeals was not made on the basis
of any facts and/or pleadings but rather was
the result of a pattern of unwarranted
adverse action against the petitioner by the
court of appeals. It is unrefuted that the
petitioner requested information under the
5
FOIA, exhausted the required administrative
remedies, and filed the complaint at App F.
The court of appeals offered no explanation
for the sanctions and/or reason for denying
the appeal, other than to say the appeal was
frivolous. In order to be awarded
attorney's fees under 42 USC 1988, the
defendant would have to succeed on “any
Significant issue.“ This did not occur in
this case because the claims were dismissed
at the pre-trial level, allegedly because
the petitioner's FOIA claims did not state a
cause of action. In the absence of the
defendants succeeding on any significant
issue, attorney's fees should not have been
awarded. See, e.g., State Teachers Assoc.
v. Garland Independent School District, Sup
Ct Case No 87-1759 (<(Mar 1989), Cert to Sth
CA
6. The district court's decision ‘App
H) to dismiss petitioner's FOIA claims
without examining the contents of the
agencies’ records is contrary to decisions
)
of this court. Although the the law places
the burden on the agency to sustain its
action in denying the records under the
FOIA, the court did not require any such
showing. Instead the court dismissed the
petitioner's FOIA claims. The decision is
contrary to this Court's decision in U. S.
Dept. of Justice v. Reporters, Cert. to CA
DC, Sup Ct Case No 87-1379 (Mar 1989) where
the Court held “... the FOIA expressly
places the burden “on the agency to sustain
its act.on” and directs the district court
to “determine the matter de novo.“ Such was
not done in this case, instead of
determining the matter de novo the courts
went to great length to label the petitioner
as the “wrongdoer” for requesting informa-
tion under the FOIA.
CONCLUSION
The foregoing facts and arguments
demonstrate that the decisions of the Second
Circuit Court of Appeals are in conflict
with this Court and the other courts of
appeals. Moreover, this case presents a
clear example of how the Second Circuit has
‘conducted a pattern and practice of
depriving the petitioner of rights secured
to him by the Constitution and laws of the
United States, including, but not limited
to, the First and Fourteenth Amendments and
the FOIA. This Court is asked to bring to
an end the continuing threats, imposition of
sanctions and other forms of deprivation of
constitutional rights by the Second Circuit.
Accordingly, the decisions should be
reversed and the case remanded to the court
of appeals with the specific requirements
that a hearing be conducted to determine and
outline specifically how it determined that
this FOIA appeal was somehow frivolous.
ae Le ee a ee
tore an Saat
ee ete
The Court of Appeals should also be
required to show and/or explain and/or
justify the pattern of threats made against
the petitioner in every other FOIA appeal
which he submitted. The threats should
either be justified on the basis of facts
or the they should be discontinued.
Respectfully submitted,
Curtis\L. Wrenn, Pro Se
P. O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603
Tel: (€315¢ 772-7817
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
OCTOBER TERM, 1990
NO
CURTIS L. WRENN
P. O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603,
Petitioner.
vs
U. S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, ET AL.,
Respondents.
PETITIONER'S APPENDIXES
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
SECOND CIRCUIT
LIST OF PETITIONER'S APPENDIXES
APPENDIX PAGE
A.
Decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals
Second Circuit, May 20, 1991......... s~@
Decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals
Second Circuit, Apr 1, 1991.......... 3-4
Petition for Writ of Mandamus, January
1B, TOOL... cc rrscnerecvwesesepessses 5-27
Petition for Rehearing and/or In Banc
Consideration, April 4, 1991....... 28-30
Petition for Reinstatement, Docket Wo
91-3006, BMOrenm 2, BOBR. cc ccesvceosss 3133
Complaint, 89-CV-315, USDC Northern
District of NY, March 22, 1989..... 34-40
Plt's Motion for Summary Judgment and
Preliminary Relief, 89-CV-315...... 41-45
Decision of USDC ND NY, 89-CV-315, Feb
13, 1990 Granting EEOC's Motion for
Partial Summary Judgment........... 46-48
Plaintiff's-Appellant Appeal Memorandum,
Docket No 60-6097, May 17, 1990.... 49-54
APP 4
Page 1 of 2 Pages
United States Court of Appeals
For The
Second Circuit
At a stated Term of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the United
States Courthouse in the City of New York, on the
twentieth day of May one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-one.
WRENN
Vv. DOCKET NUMBER
91-3006
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
A petition for rehearing containing a suggestion
that the action be reheard in banc having been filed
herein by appellant pro se, Curtis L. Wrenn.
Upon consideration by the panel that decided the
appeal, it is
Ordered that said petition for rehearing is
DENIED.
It is further noted that the suggestion for
rehearing in banc has been transmitted to the judges
of the court in regular active service and to any
other judge that heard the appeal and that no such
judge has requested that a vote be taken thereon.
/s/
ELAINE B. GOLDSMITH
Clerk
APPENDIX B
Page 1 of 2 Pages
United States Court of Appeals
For The
Second Circuit
At a stated Term of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the United
States Courthouse in the City of New York, on the
first day of April one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-one.
IN RE: CURTIS L. WRENN
91-3006
A motion having been made herein by the appellant
pro se
for a writ of mandamus
Upon consideration thereof, it is
Ordered that said motion be and is hereby is
denied.
_ a
RKW EVG JMW /s/illegible
/s/illegible
/s/illegible
APPENDIX C
Page 1 of 23 Pages
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
CURTIS L. WRENN
P. O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603,
Petitioner.
RE: Curtis L. Wrenn v. U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, Docket 89-CV-315, USDC
ND NY; CCA 90-6097
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
COMES NOW the petitioner to respectfully ask this
Honorable Court, pursuant to Rule 21(c) of the
Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, to issue a
Writ of Mandamus and an order directing the United
States District Court for the Northern District of
New York to reopen the above captioned case
regarding the petitioner’s claims against the EEOC.
As grounds for this extraordinary request, the
petitioner asks the court to consider the following:
1. This court’s recent decision in Docket No
90-6089, November 16, 1990 where the court states
the following at page 9 of its decision: “Wrenn was
thus obliged to exhaust administrative proceedings
S
;
before filing a civil action under Title VII” ...
and “We believe that Wrenn, having initiated
administrative proceedings on his ADEA claim, was
thus obliged to exhaust such proceedings before |
filing a civil action under the ADEA.”
2. Since at least May 1978 the petitioner has
been trying, without success, to have the EEOC
comply with the provisions of Sec 706(b) of The EEOC
Act which provides that “Whenever a charge is filed
by or on behalf of a person claiming to be
aggrieved, ..., alleging that an employer ... has
engaged in an unlawful employment practice, the
Commission ... shall make an investigation thereof.”
3. The petitioner has experienced severe
difficulties with the EEOC. More specifically,
numerous charges of employment discrimination have
been lost, willfully destroyed or not processed. As
a proximate result, the petitioner has been denied
certain rights and privileges.
4. In an attempt to have the EEOC enforce The
EEOC Act by having the VA to process a charge of
employment discrimination pending since November
PND She i UA I te At ete oe te tet Be eRe AB cy IRS «hs
- b
1981, the petitioner on September 21, 1988 asked
Chairman Thomas and Senator D’Amato to assist him in
having the charge processed so that he could
demonstrate that he had exhausted the required
administrative remedies. Instead of responding in a
positive fashion by indicating what action it would
take, the EEOC retaliated against the petitioner by
informing Senator D’Amoto that “Mr. Wrenn has filed
approximately 326 charges ...” a clear violation of
Sec 706(b) of The EEOC Act which provides that
“Charges shall not be made public by the
Commission.” This is the second known EEOC
violation.
5. In further support of this request to
reopen the claims against the EEOC, the petitioner
submits that the issues which he previously
complained of against that agency, including but not
limited to concerted action by it to deprive him of
rights, privileges and immunities secured to all
citizens of the United States, have not been
resolved, but are continuing in nature. The primary
problems which continue to plague the plaintiff is
7
the apparent willful unlawful destruction by the
EEOC of this investigative files pertaining to
charges of discrimination filed by the petitioner
AFTER he files a request for a copy pursuant to the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In addition,
charges are lost or mysteriously disappear. also,
the petitioner has been denied his statutory Notice
of Right to Sue. As a result of the actions and/or
inactions of the EEOC the petitioner has been
deprived of documents needed to pursue his claims in
the federal courts. The court’s attention is
invited to the following exhibits, which are
incorporated herein expressly by reference:
Exhibit 1 - File destroyed AFTER FOIA request was
made and while the lawsuit is still
pending. See Wrenn v. NYS OMH, 82 CV
3606 (CES) USDC SD NY.
Exhibit 2 - File destroyed AFTER FOIA request was
made and while the lawsuit was still
pending. See Wrenn v. Whitney M.
Young, Jr. Health Center, et al., 85
CV 1096 CA Docket No 89-7449, March
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Exhibit 3 -
Exhibit 4 -
Exhibit 5 -
30, 1990.
Files destroyed apparently after the
petitioner requested Senator D’Amoto
to assist him AND after he filed his
FOIA request.
In response to petitioner’s FOIA
requests the EEOC has alleged that
“we are unable to locate said charge
file.”
correspondence to Senator d’Amoto;
EEOC’s retaliation alleging the
plaintiff filed over 326 charges
(during more than a ten year period
in which he has been denied
employment for over two thousand jobs
and has since July 1, 1978 been
deprived of employment in his chosen
profession of hospital and health
care administration); and
petitioner’s request for information
under the FOIA concerning the 326
charges has been denied.
q
Exhibit 6 -
Exhibit 7 -
Exhibit 7A-
Page 9 of Docket No. 90-6089, Wrenn
v. VA. November 16, 1990.
Petitioner’s charge against the
University Maryland alleging
“institutionalized practice of paying
Blacks and females less than white
males ...” and “denial of due
process”. Page 5.
EEOC’s Determination on Appeal
Petition where the EEOC states at
page 3 “Since the Charging Party
filed his charge more than a year
after notice that he would be denied
tenure and not received a new
contract ..." The EEOC has denied
the petitioner’s FOIA request for the
basis for this untrue statement.
Also, the EEOC states on the same
page that “Further, a letter from
Charging Party to his former employer
shows that he protested the action as
retaliatory ...” Despite this
4
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Exhibit 7B-
Exhibit 7C-
Exhibit 7D-
Exhibit 7E-
Exhibit 8 -
acknowledgement, the EEOC refused to
provide the petitioner with a
statement that he had exhausted the
required administrative remedies in
connection with his charge of
retaliation.
The EEOC’s Determination which denied
the petitioner’s charge of
retaliation.
The USDC Order of Dismissal, as a
result of the failure to act by the
EEOC.
The denial by the EEOC of information
which would support the petitioner’s
claims in the federal courts. See
esp page 2.
The EEOC has denied petitioner the
right to exhaust his administrative
remedies.
Two Examples of where the EEOC has
refused the petitioner’s request for
a Notice of Right to Sue, thus
Exhibit 9 -
Exhibit 10-
Exhibit 11-
Exhibit 12-
Exhibit 13-
depriving him of his right to seek
redress.
The EEOC has denied the petitioner
the opportunity to exhaust his
required administrative remedies.
The EEOC’s invasion of petitioner’s
privacy and violation of the Privacy
Act by disclosing his charge filing
activities WITHOUT his permission.
The EEOC’s second invasion of
petitioner’s privacy and violation of
the Privacy Act by the unauthorized
disclosure of the petitioner’s charge
filing activities.
Petitioner’s complaints against and
about the actions and/or inactions of
the EEOC.
The EEOC informing Senator Moynihan
that it had instructed its staff not
to respond to any more inquiries from
or about Mr. Wrenn, and other
refusals to assist him.
eS eS ee ee!
PS a ae -.
Exhibit 14—- In response to the petitioner FOIA
request and while his appeal was
pending, the EEOC destroyed the file.
The file was destroyed despite the
fact the case was still pending in
the federal courts. See page 14
where it is clear that the EEOC’s
policy is “case files that are a
subject of a court action is
preserved until the completion of
such court action.” See USDC ND NY
85 CV 1096 86 CV 916. See also CA
Dockets 86-6025 and 89-7449. The
court should also note that the
district court denied his requests
for discovery and thus he was
deprived of documents to prosecute
his case.
13
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE PETITION
I. STATEMENT OF THE FACTS:
1. The pertinent facts and/or decisions and/or
actions and/or inactions by the EEOC are
demonstrated by the incorporated exhibits.
2. The facts are also demonstrated by the
complaint against the EEOC in Civil Action 89-CV-
315. The facts of record show that the petitioner
filed his complaint against the EEOC in an attempt
to have that federal agency comply with Sec 706(b)
of The EEOC Act and the FOIA. The case was
dismissed allegedly because of a failure to state a j
cause of action. Petitioner appealed and the appeal |
was denied. In addition to denying the appeal the
court imposed sanctions against the petitioner for
$500.00 allegedly because the appeal was frivolous.
The court did not discuss the case, the facts or
the merits of the case. More importantly the court
did not state the basis for its decision that the
appeal was frivolous.
II. STATEMENT T
1. Whether a cause of action is stated against
4
the EEOC when a complainant alleges that the agency
has (1) refused to process his charges of employment
discrimination against federal, public and private
employers (Sec 706(b) of The EEOC Act); (2) invaded
his privacy, in violation of the Privacy Act and The
EEOC Act, by disclosing information to third parties
regarding the petitioner’s charge filing activities;
and (3) that the agency refused to provide
information requested under the FOIA.
2. Whether the pattern and practices of the
EEOC against petitioner in denying him the right to
seek legal redress against employers who have denied
him equal employment opportunity, constitute a
“cause of action” within the meaning of Rule 12b(6)
of the FRCP and grant jurisdiction under Rule
12b(2).
3. Whether the district court abused its
discretion when it dismissed the petitioner’s claims
against the EEOC.
4. Whether this court abused its discretion
when it denied the petitioner’s appeal. Also,
whether the court abused its discretion when it
iS
imposed sanctions in the form of attorney fees on
the petitioner for filing the appeal, without
discussing the basis for saying the appeal was
frivolous. . |
III. LEGAL ARGUMENTS FOR GRANTING THE PETITION:
1. This court correctly noted in Docket No.
90-6089 (Ex 6) that a complainant is required to
ae a neal
exhaust his administrative remedies before pursuing
a claim in the district court. The court, however,
failed to mention the cases previously before it
involving this petitioner in which the responsible
federal agency refused to process administrative
complaints, and thus depriving the petitioner of the
right to pursue his claims in the district court. A
few examples:
a. 85-CV-109 A -60 nd
89-7449) where this court upheld the district
court’s refusal to direct the EEOC and DHHS to
process the petitioner’s charges of discrimination,
and thus depriving him of the opportunity to
demonstrate that he had exhausted the required
administrative remedies. This case is also noted
16
for the courts’ refusal to require DHHS to provide
information requested under the FOIA. The case is
also noted for the fact that the district court also
denied the petitioner’s discovery requests, thus
depriving him of the opportunity to properly
prosecute his case.
b. CA Docket No 87-6157 where this court
upheld the district court’s determination that it
did not have venue and/or jurisdiction to rule on
the merits of the petitioner’s FOIA request and/or
his request to have DHHS process his charges of
discrimination. This court also upheld the district
court’s decision to impose sanction and award
attorney fees allegedly because the petitioner
claims were attempts to harass the defendants.
c. 86-CV-916 (CA Docket No 87-6121), where
this court upheld the district court’s denial of
petitioner’s request for information regarding a
criminal allegation made against him by DHHS.
Despite repeated requests by the petitioner EVERY
court considering the FOIA has steadfastly refused
to even consider the merits of the FOIA request.
17
This court also upheld the district court’s refusal
to direct DHHS to investigate the petitioner’s
charges so he could demonstrate that he exhausted
the required Title VI administrative remedies. See
Exhibit 7C. See also Docket No 87-6157.
2. The foregoing is submitted to demonstrate
that this court’s action in Docket No 90-6089 is
another example of the court taking unwarranted
punitive action against the petitioner for
attempting to obtain redress for the many wrongs
visited upon him by the EEOC and other federal
agencies, and private and public employers since at
least July 1978. The case at bar is noted for the
fact that the district court denied sanctions and
this court, apparently on its own motion, imposed
sanctions WITHOUT discussing how the petitioner’s
request for the EEOC to do what Congress has
mandated it to do is somehow a frivolous claim.
3. The EEOC’s refusal to process the
petitioner’s charges and/or to provide him with the
statutory Notice of Right to Sue should not be
condoned by this court. The EEOC has demonstrated a
18
ee
a
é
4
4
clear pattern or practice of denying the petitioner
the right to seek legal redress by, among other
things, implementing regulations and/or practices to
single out the petitioner for disparate treatment,
such as not providing him with the requested Notice
of Right to Sue in cases filed more than 180 days
before the request was made. Petitioner submits
that the action and/or inaction of the EEOC is a
clear violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended. See, e.g., Mohasco Corporation v. Silver,
447 US 807, 65 L Ed 532, 100 S Ct 2486 (1980) where
the court noted: “The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission cannot adopt regulations that are
inconsistent with its statutory mandate under the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 ...” See also Exhibits
1,2,7A,7B,7D,7E, and 8-10.
4. The disclosure by the EEOC of petitioner’s
charge filings to third parties (Exhibits 10 and 11)
constitute a clear invasion of the petitioner’s
privacy AND a clear violation of the Privacy Act and
The EEOC Act. Thus, these disclosures present a
serious question regarding whether or not in the
17
absence of a subpoena duces tecum the EEOC violated
and/or unlawfully invaded the plaintiff’s privacy by
disclosing unsolicited information to Senator
D’Amoto and others, which it neither was requested
to disclose nor had a right or authority to
disclose. See, e.g., 5 USC 552a(b) which precludes
the disclosure of any records in a system of records
without the written consent of the subject of the
records. See, also Britt v. Naval Investigative
Service (CA 3, September 14, 1989) No 88-1710, 58 LW
1051; O’Donnell v. U.S. (CA 3, December 15, 1989),
No 89-1363, 58 LW 2384; and Whalen v. Roe, 429 U.S.
589 (1977).
5. The exhibits in this case clearly
demonstrate that the EEOC has contravened the
constitutional guarantee of equal treatment, in that
charges filed by the petitioner are not processed in
the same manner as those of other individual
complainants. In addition, the petitioner’s FOIA
requests are handled differently by the various EEOC
District Offices AND different from how other
individual requests are handled. See, e.g., Young
20
, ye.
v. Pierce (DC Tex 1982), 544 F. Supp 1010 where the
court held “To extent a plaintiff asserts that
federal agency is violating terms of a federal
statute by abdicating affirmative duty to eliminate
discrimination, action is properly brought against
agency; in such circumstance, agency is a partner in
discrimination, and may be held responsible for such
complicity.” Accordingly, the facts in this case
demonstrate that the EEOC has violated the
Administrative Procedure Act by refusing to timely
process complaints of unlawful discrimination filed
by the petitioner (Exhibits 7-7E, 8 and 9). See,
e.g., Doran v. Salem Inn, Inc. 422 US 922, 931, 95 S
Ct 2561, 45 L ed2d 648 (1975).
6. The denial by the EEOC of information under
the FOIA, esp. Exhibits 7-7E, is a clear violation
of the FOIA (5 USC 552(a)(4)B). The EEOC in the
Maryland’s case made unsupported disparaging remarks
and statements concerning the petitioner without any
facts to support its allegation. This court is
being asked not to continue condoning the
withholding of information from the petitioner by
2)
the EEOC, but to “determine the matter de novo” and
determine WHY the EEOC and other federal agencies
have covered up their activities against the
Pe ee ee
petitioner by denying him the information he would
need to prosecute actions against them and others.
See, e.g., U. S. Dept. of Justice v. Reporters,
Cert. to CA DC, Sup Ct Case No 87-1379 (Mar 1989).
Te Ee OE
The questions the court is being asked to decide:
(1) whether the EEOC had information in the Maryland
case to support its statements at page 2 of Exhibit
7D, (2) if the EEOC had such information, then was
it unlawfully withheld from the petitioner, and (3)
if the EEOC did not have such information, why did
it make the unsupported allegations, and more
importantly why it has not just acknowledged that
the statements were unsupported. Also, the court is
being asked to determine, under the FOIA, the
disposition of the petitioner’s retaliation claim by
the EEOC in the Maryland case.
7. This court’s previous decision in Docket No
90-6097, especially its imposition of sanctions
against the petitioner, should be revoked. The
22
court cited no facts and/or acts by the petitioner
which could characterize his civil action against
the EEOC as “frivolous” and/or without foundation.
Moreover, the court did not cite any facts or
examples to show that the petitioner’s complaint
against the EEOC was not grounded in fact or was not
legally tenable, or that the complaint was baseless.
All the court did was state the complaint was
“frivolous” without citing ANY facts or basis for
its statement. The petitioner is not aware of any
case involving him that this court has rendered a
decision, pursuant to Federal Rules of appellate
Procedure 38, that it had “determined that the
appeal was frivolous.” Moreover, the court has not
refuted the petitioner’s contention that his
complaint against the EEOC was “well grounded in
fact and is warranted by existing law or a good
faith argument for the extension, modifications, or
reversal of existing law, ...” which is the heart of
Rule 11. The petitioner submits that he has fully
complied with the central purpose and duty imposed
by Rule 11, in that he has “conducted a reasonable
23
inquiry and has determined that any papers filed
with the court are well-grounded in fact, legally
tenable, and “not interposed for any improper
purpose". See, e.g., Cooter & Gell v Hartmarx
Corp., US Sup Ct Docket No 88-275, decided June 11,
1990. The court is asked to review the Exhibits and
determine whether this lawsuit was initiated AFTER
conducting reasonable inquiry. Other additional
reasons this court should reconsider its decision:
a. An award of attorney’s fees to the
defendants in this case is not justified, primartly
because there has been no showing by this court, the
district court or the defendants that the
petitioner’s claim “was frivolous, unreasonable, or
groundless, or that the plaintiff continued to
litigate after it clearly became so.”
Christian n Vv 434 U.S. 412,
423, 98 s. Ct. 694, 701, 54 L.Ed.2d 648 (1978).
b. Rule 11 provides in pertinent parts
that:
“The signature of an attorney or party
constitute a certificate by the signer
that the signer has read the pleading,
motion, or other paper; that to the
best of the signer’s knowledge,
24
information, and belief formed after
reasonable inquiry it is well grounded
in fact and is warranted by existing
law OR (emphasis added) a good faith
argument for the extension,
modification, or reversal of existing
law, and that it is not interposed for
any improper purpose, such as to harass
or to cause unnecessary delay or
needless increase in the cost of
litigation. ”
Accordingly, the decision should be reversed in this
case in the same manner and for reasons similar to
the Supreme Court’s reversal of another Rule 11
sanction decision of this court. See, Pavelic &
LeFlore v. Marvel Entertainment Group, No 88-791,
The United States Law Week, vol 58, No. 22 58 LW
4038-4040.
8. should the court not be inclined to reopen
this case and/or to revoke its earlier decision, the
petitioner respectfully ask the court to “discuss
the specific information that forms the basis of the
plaintiff’s suit and explain why this information
does not constitute adequate factual substance for
the commencement of a nonfrivolous case ...”. See,
@.g., Hermes v. Hein, 742 F.2d 350, 357 (7th Cir.
1984).
2s
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing the court should reopen
this case and review the activities of the EEOC.
The facts in the case demonstrate that the
petitioner has submitted more than adequate evidence
to show that the EEOC has denied him, among other
things, the equal protection afforded by Title VII
because of his race and because he has opposed
employment practices made unlawful by the
Constitution and laws of the United States, and
Ri Set Se ieee, be eee
because he has complained of the manner in which the
EEOC processes and/or refused to process his charges
of employment discrimination. See, e.g., A&A
Concrete, Inc. v. White Mountain Apache Tribe (CA
Ariz 1982), 676 F.2d 1330.
Le, NE | ee ee ee
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
P.O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603
Tel: (315) 772-6102
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of the foregoing Petition for
Writ of Mandamus was mailed to Hon. Con. G.
26
Ninel wi KEE,
SES on een wil Ra GPF Rta SG
Cholakis, United States District Judge, 445
Broadway, Albany, NY 12207, and the United States
Attorney, 445 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207, this 12th
day of January, 1991, via U. S. mail postage
prepaid.
/s/Curtis L. Wrenn
27
APPENDIX |
Page 1 of 3 Pages |
:
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
IN RE: CURTIS L. WRENN |
91-3006
PETITION FOR REHEARING AND/OR IN BANC CONSIDERATION
COMES NOW the petitioner to ask the court to
reconsider its decision of April 1, 1991, on the
grounds that the court has misapprehended the facts
in the case and/or misapplied the laws governing the
granting and/or denial of information under the
FOIA/PA, and/or intentionally denied the petition
for writ of mandamus because of the petitioner’s
race (Negroid) and/or in retaliation for his
previous appeals.
This court has demonstrated a clear pattern or
practice of denying EVERY request for information
under the FOIA/PA submitted by this petitioner
WITHOUT providing ANY explanation for its action.
That is, this is one of at least four requests for
information under the FOIA/PA which this court has
denied without providing the basis for its denial.
The court’s action in this case demonstrates a
blatant malicious denial of petitioner’s rights
under the constitution and laws of the United States
SOLELY because he is a Negroid person who exercised
his First Amendment rights. This is supported by
the fact that this court denied the petition for
writ of mandamus BEFORE it received it. Exhibit 1
shows that the petition was mailed Mar 30, 1991.
This is at least the third time this court has
denied an appeal of this petitioner while not having
before it the pleading submitted by him. See Docket
No 87-6157, a case in which the Clerk returned the
petitioner’s Brief AND his Reply Brief WITHOUT
offering ANY explanation for the return. The court
later denied the appeal SOLELY on the basis of the
Brief of the Appellees.
In summary, the continuing unlawful action of
this, or ANY other court, to deny the petitioner
information under the FOIA/PA should not be
condoned. The denials of the petitioner’s requests
under the FOIA not only violate 5 USC 552(a) but
more importantly the decisions convene decisions of
29
the Supreme Court. See, e.g., U.S. Dept. of Justice —
v. Reporters, Cert. to CA DC, Sup Ct Case No 87-1379 ©
(Mar 1989).
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
P.O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603
Tel: (315) 772-4025
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of the foregoing was mailed to
Judge Cholakis and the U. S. Attorney, 445 Broadway,
Albany, NY 12207, this 4th day of April, 1991.
/s/Curtis L. Wrenn
APPENDIX E
Page 1 of 3 Pages
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
CURTIS L. WRENN
P. O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603. Docket No 91-3006
Petitioner
PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT
COMES NOW the petitioner to petition the court to
reinstate the above captioned case. The court
previously dismissed this FOIA action on the grounds
that the petitioner and failed to pay a $500.00 fine
levied by the court in another FOIA action, namely
Curtis L. Wrenn v. United States, No 90-6025. The
latter concerns a claim for information under the
FOIA filed against the EEOC. The case at bar is the
result of a petition for writ of mandamus in which
the petitioner has asked the court to review the
continuing denial of information, documents and
things by the EEOC under the FOIA, especially the
denial of information pertaining to the University
of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore (Exhibit 7D of the
petition for writ of mandamus).
3)
The requested information at Exhibit 7D is needed
for a trial scheduled July 15, 1991 against the
University of Maryland Hospital. See Exhibit 2.
(The maryland Case is the origin of petitioner’s
troubles in that it was the first charge of
discrimination he filed with ANY agency. Since
filing that charge in March 1978, the petitioner has
been denied employment in his chosen profession of
hospital and health care administration by EVERY
employer which he made application in response to
advertisements which the employer announced that it
was seeking applicants with his qualifications.
Moreover, the petitioner has now become the
“wrongdoer” according to the action of this court,
instead of being a victim of discrimination and
denial of the rights, privileges and immunities
secured to citizens by the constitution and laws of
the United States).
The information at Exhibits 1 and 3 demonstrate
that the requirement of the court has been met.
WHEREFORE, the petitioner prays this case will be
reinstated. Moreover, the petitioner asks that the
32
i
3
|
j
case be in every way expedited, and that if at all
possible the court will render a decision prior to
the trial scheduled July 15, 1991 in the Maryland
District Court. The information requested is
essential for the plaintiff to prosecute the case
which has been pending since 1982.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
P. O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603
Tel: (315) 772-4025
33
APPENDIX F
Page 1 of 7 Pages
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
CURTIS L. WRENN
P. O. Box 203 89-CV-315
Fort Drum, NY 13603,
— —_
Plaintiff,
vs
ADMINISTRATOR
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20430
-and-
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
10th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
~and-
CHAIRMAN
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION !
2401 E Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20507
——=and-
SECRETARY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D. C. 20201,
Defendants.
gary allt 34
COMPLAINT
This is a complaint in equity for injunctive and
preliminary relief. The ground for this complaint
is that the defendants have conspired by lawful and
unlawful means to deprive the plaintiff of rights,
privileges and immunities secured to him by the
Constitution and laws of the United States,
including but not limited to the First and
Fourteenth Amendments, and The Equal Employment
Opportunity Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
JURISDICTION
1. The Jurisdiction of this Court is invoked
pursuant to the First and Fourteenth Amendments to
the Constitution of the United States, in that the
plaintiff has been deprived of his First Amendment
right to oppose employment practices which he
perceives to be unlawful and has been fa’sely
accused of criminal activities without the benefit
of due process.
2. The jurisdiction of this Court is also
invoked pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act
(5 USC 552) (FOIA), this being an action in which
35
the plaintiff has been denied information, documents
and things which he requested under that Act. More
specifically, the plaintiff submitted timely
requests to the federal agencies herein named as
defendants and his requests were denied.
CLAIM
1. The plaintiff’s complaint against the named
defendants consists of the following incorporated
exhibits:
A - 88-11-FOIA-131-BA. Denial of documents
and things which support the EEOC’s allegation that
it did not have jurisdiction to investigate the
three charges at issue.
B - 88-12-FOIA-147-BA. The denial of
documents and things which the EEOC alleged used to
state that "... he (the plaintiff in this case)
filed his charge after his employment with
Respondent ceased” and “... we find the charge
untimely in regard to the issue of denial of tenure
and non-renewal of contract.”
C - 88-10-FOIA-280-NY. The denial of
documents and things which support the
36
Administrative Law Judge’s statement “Since the
offer of full relief was certified and offered by
Or. Graninger.”
D - EEOC Charge No 021855170. The denial of
documents and things which were used as a basis for
the EEOC’s refusal to investigate this charge as is
required by Section 706(b) of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Act.
E - 88-11-FOIA-217. The denial of documents
and things pertaining to the status and/or
disposition of 326 charges which allegedly were
filed by the plaintiff with the EEOC. The plaintiff
has been trying since at least May 24, 1978 to have
the EEOC process his charges of employment
discrimination against public and private employers.
F - Case #85-552. The denial of UWocuments
and things by DHHS concerning three specific charges
of discrimination AND DHHS’s continuing refusal to
process plaintiff’s charges despite the requirement
of Title VI.
G - Case No 86-279. The denial of documents
37
and things by DHHS concerning an investigation of
the plaintiff by the Office of the Inspector
General.
H - Case No 86-594(DHHS) and Appeal No 86-
1619. Denial of documents and things concerning an
allegation made by DHHS to the FBI that plaintiff
stole government property.
I - FOIA 86-1003. The denial of information
regarding processing plaintiff’s civil conspiracy
complaint by the Department of Justice.
J - FOIA Requests. The denial of information —
by VA concerning applications for employment which
the plaintiff has submitted to various VA offices.
2. the exhibits indicate that the defendants
have conspired among themselves and with public and
private employers to deny plaintiff equal employment
opportunity and the right to seek legal redress
against those who have discriminated against him,
because of his race (Negroid), age (date of birth
February 14, 1930) and retaliation (for the
plaintiff’s opposition to employment practices made
unlawful by the Constitution and laws of the United
33
States. The defendants have covered up their
conspiracy by denying the plaintiff access to
essential information.
3. Moreover, the defendants have caused the
plaintiff great economic and psychological harm by
their tactics of subjecting him to great costs in
time and money, and by alleging that he: (1) is a
criminal (extortion and theft), and (2) that he is a
litigious person who files baseless complaint, all
in an attempt to prevent the plaintiff’s employment
in his chosen profession of hospital and health care
administration.
4. As a proximate result of the actions and/or
inactions of the defendants, the plaintiff has been
unable to obtain employment in his chosen
profession. More importantly he has been unable to
obtain legal redress against those who have
discriminated against him.
YER FOR R F
WHEREFORE, the plaintiff: «:ays the Court will grant
him preliminary relief and order the defendants to
immediately provide him the information, -documents
3
and things which he requested under the FOIA.
Plaintiff also prays the Court will grant him
additional relief as the Court deems just
considering the circumstances of this case,
including but not limited to costs and damages.
Plaintiff respectfully submits for the Court’s
consideration that the acts herein complained of
were intentionally and maliciously undertaken to
stigmatize, libel and slander him so as to prevent
his employment at to discourage him and others from
filing complaints in connection with employment
discrimination.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
P.O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603
Tel: (315) 772-4021
DATED: February 20, 1989
APPENDIX G
Page 1 of 5 Pages
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
CURTIS L. WRENN,
Plaintiff,
vs Civil Action
89-CV-315
SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS, et al., JUDGE CHOLAKIS
Defendants. NOTICE OF MOTION
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that upon the annexed affirmation
of Curtis L. Wrenn, affirmed May 29, 1989, and upon
the complaint here, plaintiff will move this Court,
Judge Cholakis, U.S.D.J. in the United States
Courthouse, Albany, New York on the 7th Day of July
1989, at 9:30 AM, or as soon thereafter as counsel
can be heard, to grant him summary judgment,
pursuant to Rule 56(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure (FRCP), and for preliminary injunctive
relief, pursuant to Rule 65(d) of FRCP. A
memorandum of support is included.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
+!
M N T
I. PLAINTIFF’S STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS WHICH
THERE ARE NO GENUINE ISSUES
1. During the past eleven years the plaintiff
has submitted applications for and been denied more
than 2500 positions by public and private employers.
Believing in some cases he was denied employment
because of impermissible factors, the plaintiff has
filed charges and other administrative actions with
the defendants named herein.
2. The defendants have not only failed to take
the requested action, but more importantly the.
plaintiff has been denied information requested
pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
II. PLAINTIFF’S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES
IN SUPPORT OF HIS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
AN NA TIV F
1. This is a civil action instituted by the
plaintiff against the defendants under the FOIA.
The gravamen of plaintiff’s claim alleges a
violation of the FOIA, in that the plaintiff was
denied information concerning the concerted action
of the defendants to aid and abet public and private
employers by, among other things, refusing to
enforce a mandate of Congress, i.e., The Equal
Employment Opportunity Act.
2. This motion is made on the basis of the
facts of record as submitted to the defendants and
the Court in plaintiff’s complaint. Plaintiff
submits that on the basis of the complaint and
incorporated exhibits, he is entitled to summary
judgment and preliminary injunctive relief as a
matter of law.
3. In this case at bar it is sufficient that
the evidence of record, in the form of plaintiff’s
exhibits which demonstrate his repeated FOIA
requests and the subsequent denials by the
defendants, demonstrates that no material dispute
exists. Therefore, summary judgment should be
granted as a matter of law. See, e.g., Celotex
Corp. v. Catrett (1986) 106 S Ct 2548.
4. Preliminary injunction is warranted in this
case because of the irreparable harm to the
plaintiff resulting from the defendants’ continuing
efforts to stigmatize and defame him, and their
efforts to aid and abet private and public employers
against the plaintiff by, among other things:
withholding evidence of their concerted actions
against him be refusing to provide him information
under the FOIA, and by refusing to timely process
administrative actions filed by him, as required by
the Administrative Procedures Act. See, e.g., Doran
v. Salem Inn, Inc. (1975) 422 US 922, 931, 95 S Ct
2561, 45 L ed2d 648.
5. Should this Court not consider the
irreparable harm to the plaintiff as a basis for
granting the preliminary injunction, the court is
respectfully requested to grant the relief on the
basis that the relief is expressly authorized by
statute and that the statutory conditions have been
satisfied. That is, the plaintiff has exhausted the
required statutory administrative remedies. See,
e.g., South Central Bell Tel. Co. v. Louisiana Pub.
Serv. Comm. (CA 5th, 1984) 744 F2d 1167.
WHEREFORE, plaintiff prays that his motion will be
granted and that the defendants be ordered to:
1. Produce the requested documents
2. Cease and desist their concerted action
against the plaintiff.
3. Process any and ali administrative claims
and/complaints submitted by the plaintiff in the
SAME manner as they would process such claims for
any other citizen.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
P.O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603
Tal: (315) 772-4021
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of the foregoing was mailed to
U. S. Attorney, U. S. Post Office & Courthouse,
Albany, NY 12201, this 30th day of May, 1989, via
U.S. mail, postage prepaid.
/s/Curtis L. Wrenn
APPENDIX H
Page 1 of 3 Pages
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
CURTIS L. WRENN,
Plaintiff,
Vv;
ADMINISTRATOR,
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, et, al.,
Defendants.
Appearances:
HONORABLE FREDERICK J. SCULLIN, JR.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Northern District of New York
James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse
445 Broadway - Room 231
Albany, New York 12207
ORDER
Civil No.
89-CV-315
(Hon. Con. G.
Cholakis)
Barbara D.
Cottrell]
Assistant
U.S. Attorney
of Counsel
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
1801 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20507
P.O. Box 1691
Albany, New York 12201
HONORABLE CON. G. CHOLAKIS
United States District Judge
Defendants having moved by their attorney,
Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., United States Attorney
for the Northern District of New York, Barbara D.
i. =
Richard E.
Dunlop, Esq.
of Counsel
Cottrell, Assistant United States Attorney, of
counsel, for an order dismissing the above-captioned
action pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6),
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, defendant Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (hereinafter
“EEOC”) having moved for an order granting partial
summary judgment and partial dismissal, and for an
order providing injunctive relief and imposing
sanctions, counsel for the United States and the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission having
appeared and waived oral argument in this matter,
and due consideration having been given to the
papers before the Court on submission by all
parties, it is hereby,
ORDERED, that plaintiff’s motion for summary
judgment and partial dismissal be, and hereby is
DENIED; it is further
ORDERED, that defendant EEOC’s motion for partial
summary judgment and partial dismissal be, and
hereby is GRANTED; it is further
ORDERED, that defendant EEOC’s motion for
injunctive relief and the imposition of sanctions
be, and hereby is DENIED.
Dated: Feb 13, 1990
Albany, New York
/s/Con. G. Cholakis
HON. CON. G. CHOLAKIS
UNITED STATES
DISTRICT JUDGE
APPENDIX I
Page 1 of 6 Pages
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
CURTIS L. WRENN,
Plaintiff-Appel lant,
vs Docket No.
90-6097
SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS, et. al.,
Defendants-Appe!l lees.
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT’S APPEAL MEMORANDUM
COMES NOW THE PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT and appeals the
decision of the United States District Court for the
Northern District of New York of February 13, 1990.
This memorandum of appeals is made on the basis that
the district court (1) abused its discretion, (2)
misinterpreted the facts in this case, and (3)
misapplied the laws governing the granting and/or
denial of information under The Freedom of
Information Act (As Amended) 1986,
The following cases are related to the action
herein complained of: Docket Nos: 87-6157/87-6199;
88-6037; 87-6121; 89-3043; 89-3045; and 90-6019.
49
A memorandum in support is submitted.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
MEMORANDUM _IN SUPPORT
I. BACKGROUND:
1. The case concerns plaintiff-appellant’s
continuing efforts to obtain information from the
respondents under the provision of the Freedom of
Information Act (As Amended) 1986. The case was
filed in the district court AFTER the appellant
exhausted and/or attempted to exhaust the required
administrative remedies. See Exhibit #3.
2. The plaintiff filed a motion for summary
judgment in the district court (Exhibit 3).
Apparently in response to that motion the Defendant
EEOC filed a motion for dismissal pursuant to Rule
12(b)(1) (lack of jurisdiction over the subject
matter) and Rule 12(b)(6) (failure to state a claim
upon which relief can be granted), of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure.
3. The district court denied plaintiff’s
50
ee. _—
motion for summary judgment and granted the
Defendant EEOC’s motion for dismissal. See Exhibit
#1.
II. REASONS FOR GRANTING THE APPEAL:
1. To obtain relief under The Freedom of
Information Act (5 USC 552), a plaintiff must
establish (1) that he submitted a request to the
auibinby for the information at issue and (2) that the
agency failed to provide the requested information.
If these two factors are satisfied, the plaintiff is
entitled to file a complaint in the appropriate
“district court of the United States in the district
in which the complainant resides ..." (Exhibit #4).
2. Plaintiff, after exhausting the required
administrative remedies, filed his complaint in the
district court. The court dismissed the complaint
allegedly because it did not have jurisdiction and
because allegedly the plaintiff did not state a
cause of action.
3. This Court has authority to review the
district court’s actions under the abuse of
discretion standard. See, e.g., Albermarle Paper
Sl
Co. v. Moody, 422 U.s. 405, 424 - 25 (1975). This
appeal presents this court with an issue of first
impression for this Circuit - whether and under what
circumstances a district court has jurisdiction to |
review de novo a FOIA claim under Title 5 USC 552 }
(a)(4)B.
4. Appellant submits that the district court
had jurisdiction under 5 USC 552(a)(4)B, and that
the allegation that the court did not have
jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1), FRCP, is clearly
erroneous. Moreover, the court abused its
discretion when it decided that the plaintiff had
not stated a claim which relief could be granted.
5. The relief which the appellant seeks is as
stated in his complaint (Exhibit 2). That is, the
appellant was seeking information from the EEOC
pertaining to charges of discrimination which the
EEOC (1) made false and/or misleading statements to
employers and courts (Exhibit 6), (2) violated
Section 706(b) of The EEOC Act when it refused to
process charges of discrimination filed by him
(Exhibit 7), and (3) information which the EEOC had
52
unlawfully disclosed to others without the
appellant’s permission and/or authorization, in
violation of Section 706(b) (Exhibit 7).
6. Based on the foregoing, the district court
had jurisdiction in this case. Also, the appellant
stated a claim which relief could be granted. See
Exhibit 5.
7. The FOIA (Title 5 USC 552(a)(4)B) expressly
places the burden on the agency to sustain its
action and directs the district court to determine
the matter de novo. See, U.S, Department of Justice
v. Reporters, Cert, to CA DC, Sup Ct CAse No 87-1379
(Mar 1989).
53
CONCLUSION
This case should be remanded to the district court
with instructions that this case be heard de novo
without further delay. The district court’s action
should not be condoned by this Court, in that the
decision of the former is clearly erroneous and a
clear abuse of discretion.
Respectfully,
/s/
Curtis L. Wrenn, Pro Se
P.O. Box 203
Fort Drum, NY 13603
Tel: (315) 772-7817
TIFICAT Vv
I certify that a copy of the foregoing was mailed to
Barbara D. Cotrell, Esq., James T. Foley U.S.
courthouse, 445 Broadway, Room 231, Albany, NY
12207, this 17th day of May, 1990, via U.S., mail,
postage prepaid.
/s/Curtis L. Wrenn
hg
ee ee
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