Case: Asbestos Disease Awareness Association v. National Park Service

1:26-cv-00029 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Jan. 7, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case is an attempt by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization to obtain records related to the demolition of the White House East Wing and the handling of asbestos. On January 7, 2026, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) sued the National Park Service (“NPS”), Department of Interior (“DOI”), Department of Labor (“DOL”), Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Executive Office of the President (“EOP”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking re…

This case is an attempt by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization to obtain records related to the demolition of the White House East Wing and the handling of asbestos.

On January 7, 2026, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) sued the National Park Service (“NPS”), Department of Interior (“DOI”), Department of Labor (“DOL”), Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Executive Office of the President (“EOP”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking records related to the October 2025 demolition of the White House East Wing and the handling of potentially hazardous asbestos materials under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In its complaint, the plaintiff sought to compel the government to release records concerning the 2025 demolition of the wing, which was razed to build a new state ballroom. The plaintiff alleged that the historic structure contained hazardous asbestos fibers that may not have been handled according to safety and environmental regulations. In November 2025, the ADAO filed comprehensive FOIA requests with nine federal offices and agencies with possible involvement in the East Wing demolition. According to its complaint, the ADAO received only one response to these requests and no information was provided about hazardous material identification and abatement during the demolition. The ADAO argues that this lack of transparency violated FOIA, endangered public health and ignored established laws designed to protect workers and the community. Consequently, the organization requested that the court declare that the defendants wrongfully withheld the requested documents and mandate the immediate production of all relevant records and safety assessments, as well as identify any and all documents withheld under an exemption to FOIA with a detailed justification of why each exemption applies.

On February 9, 2026, the plaintiff moved for summary judgment, arguing that they are entitled to judgment because there is no dispute that (i) defendants received plaintiff’s FOIA request, (ii) the 20 day statutory deadline has passed for their responses and (iii) they have failed to make the “determinations” required under FOIA by that deadline. The motion therefore sought an order compelling the three defendants to make determinations on the FOIA requests within 10 working days and then produce responsive documents within 15 working days thereafter.

On February 17, 2026, NPS filed a motion to stay the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. The agency argued that by filing their motion for summary judgment before the agency had filed a responsive pleading or a threshold motion to dismiss the complaint and before the defendants had completed their searches and processing of potentially responsive records, the plaintiff invited the court to bypass the early stages of this action. NPS asked the court to stay or deny the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment without prejudice as premature.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Sofia Yoder (2/21/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72112184/parties/asbestos-disease-awareness-association-v-national-park-service/

Judge(s)

Leon, Richard J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Sussman, Robert Matthew (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Jones, Sian (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Leon, Richard J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Sussman, Robert Matthew (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Jones, Sian (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-00029	Complaint Asbestos Disease Awareness Association v. National Park Service et al.	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026 Complaint
7 1:26-cv-00029	Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization v. National Park Service Department of the Interior	Feb. 9, 2026	Feb. 9, 2026 Pleading / Motion / Brief
8 1:26-cv-00029	Case Management Order Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization v. National Park Service Department of the Interior	Feb. 10, 2026	Feb. 10, 2026 Order/Opinion
9 1:26-cv-00029	Motion to Stay Consideration fo Premature Motion for Summary Judgment Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization v. National Park Service Department	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026 Pleading / Motion / Brief

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72112184/asbestos-disease-awareness-association-v-national-park-service/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:19 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT BY ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION against NATIONAL PARK SERVICE et al ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12169904) filed by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 RELATED CASE FORM CIVIL, # 10 RELATED CASE FORM, # 11 RELATED CASE FORM, # 12 RELATED CASE FORM, # 13 RELATED CASE FORM, # 14 RELATED CASE FORM, # 15 RELATED CASE FORM)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 01/07/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons View on PACER 3 Summons View on PACER 4 Summons View on PACER 5 Summons View on PACER 6 Summons View on PACER 7 Summons View on PACER 8 Summons View on PACER 9 RELATED CASE FORM CIVIL View on PACER 10 RELATED CASE FORM View on PACER 11 RELATED CASE FORM View on PACER 12 RELATED CASE FORM View on PACER 13 RELATED CASE FORM View on PACER 14 RELATED CASE FORM View on PACER 15 RELATED CASE FORM View on PACER	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. Case related to Case No. 25-4316. (Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026 RECAP
	Notice of Error- New Case	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
	NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint,,. The following error(s) need correction: Related Case forms must be filed separately and non-fillable; Please refile using the event Notice of Related Case (one entry with all forms uploaded). COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (znmw)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
3	SUMMONS (7) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 01/08/2026)	Jan. 8, 2026	Jan. 8, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Richard J. Leon. (znmw)	Jan. 8, 2026	Jan. 8, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	Jan. 8, 2026	Jan. 8, 2026
4	NOTICE of Appearance by Sian Jones on behalf of All Defendants (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 02/05/2026)	Feb. 5, 2026	Feb. 5, 2026
5	MOTION for Extension of Time to File by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, EPA ADMINISTRATOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 02/05/2026)	Feb. 5, 2026	Feb. 5, 2026
6	RESPONSE re 5 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response to Complaint filed by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 02/06/2026)	Feb. 6, 2026	Feb. 6, 2026
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File AND Set/Reset Deadlines	Feb. 6, 2026	Feb. 6, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of defendants' 5 Motion for Extension of Time to File, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to the 1 Complaint no later than March 11, 2026. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 2/6/2026. (lcrjl2)	Feb. 6, 2026	Feb. 6, 2026
7	MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 02/09/2026)	Feb. 9, 2026	Feb. 9, 2026 Clearinghouse
8	STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 2/10/2026. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 02/10/2026)	Feb. 10, 2026	Feb. 10, 2026 Clearinghouse
9	MOTION to Stay re 7 MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, EPA ADMINISTRATOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 02/17/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026 Clearinghouse
10	Memorandum in opposition to re 9 MOTION to Stay re 7 MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 02/19/2026)	Feb. 19, 2026	Feb. 19, 2026
	Order on Motion to Stay	Feb. 19, 2026	Feb. 19, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of defendants' 9 Motion to Stay Consideration of Premature Motion for Summary Judgment, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Consideration of plaintiff's 7 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is stayed pending further order of the Court. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 02/19/2026. (lcrjl2)	Feb. 19, 2026	Feb. 19, 2026
11	Emergency MOTION for Scheduling Order, MOTION to Amend/Correct Order on Motion to Stay, FILED by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) Modified event on 2/24/2026 (znmw). (Entered: 02/20/2026)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the plaintiff's 11 Expedited Motion to Amend February 19 Minute Order and Set Schedule for Briefing Pending Motions, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED in part. It is further ORDERED that the parties file a joint status report no later than March 18, 2026 proposing a briefing schedule and next steps on plaintiff's 7 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 2/26/2026. (lcrjl2)	Feb. 26, 2026	Feb. 26, 2026
	Order on Motion for Scheduling Order AND Set/Reset Deadlines	Feb. 26, 2026	Feb. 26, 2026
12	Partial MOTION to Dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment by EPA ADMINISTRATOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian). Added MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment on 3/16/2026 (mg). (Entered: 03/11/2026)	March 11, 2026	March 11, 2026
13	ANSWER to Complaint (Partial) by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 03/11/2026)	March 11, 2026	March 11, 2026 RECAP
14	Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, EPA ADMINISTRATOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Defendants')(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 03/18/2026)	March 18, 2026	March 18, 2026
15	MOTION for Scheduling Order for summary judgment briefing by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 03/23/2026)	March 23, 2026	March 23, 2026
16	MOTION for Scheduling Order for summary judgment briefing by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report and plaintiff's 15 Motion for Scheduling Order and 16 Motion for Scheduling Order, it is hereby ORDERED that the motions are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. It is further ORDERED that the following briefing schedule shall apply: Plaintiff's response to defendants' 12 Partial Motion to Dismiss and defendants' response to plaintiff's 7 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment due April 10, 2026. Plaintiff's reply, if any, in support of plaintiff's 7 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and defendants' reply, if any, in support of defendants' 12 Partial Motion to Dismiss due April 17, 2026. The Court hereby lifts the stay of plaintiff's 7 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 3/27/2026. (lcrjl2)	March 27, 2026	March 27, 2026
	Order on Motion for Scheduling Order AND Set/Reset Deadlines	March 27, 2026	March 27, 2026
17	Memorandum in opposition to re 7 MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Declaration, # 8 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 04/10/2026) 1 Declaration View on PACER 2 Exhibit View on PACER 3 Exhibit View on PACER 4 Exhibit View on PACER 5 Exhibit View on PACER 6 Exhibit View on PACER 7 Declaration View on PACER 8 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
18	Memorandum in opposition to re 12 Partial MOTION to Dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment, 7 MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 04/10/2026)	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
19	Supplemental MOTION for Summary Judgment TO ADD DEFENDANT EOP by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 04/10/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
20	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 19 Supplemental MOTION for Summary Judgment TO ADD DEFENDANT EOP, 12 Partial MOTION to Dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, EPA ADMINISTRATOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 04/14/2026)	April 14, 2026	April 14, 2026
21	RESPONSE re 20 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 19 Supplemental MOTION for Summary Judgment TO ADD DEFENDANT EOP, 12 Partial MOTION to Dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment MOTION for Partial Summary Jud filed by ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. (Sussman, Robert) (Entered: 04/14/2026)	April 14, 2026	April 14, 2026
22	Reply to opposition to motion	April 16, 2026	April 16, 2026
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply AND Set/Reset Deadlines	April 17, 2026	April 17, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Miscellaneous

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 7, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Department of the Interior

Environmental Protection Agency

Executive Office of the President

National Park Service

U.S. Department of Labor

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00029

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Buildings

Records Disclosure

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Asbestos Disease Awareness Association v. National Park Service, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47630/ (last updated 2/21/2026).