Case: Maizel v. United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

1:26-cv-00494 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Feb. 16, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)

On February 16, 2026, Plaintiffs - two Professors at Michigan State University College of Law and University of Florida Levin College of Law, respectively - filed this lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Plaintiffs sought to compel the immediate production of documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Their original request, filed on May 13, 2025, sought information regarding the EEOC's well-publicized settlements with twenty American law firms regarding allegedly discriminatory hiring practices. Their request was denied, and subsequent follow ups ignored. Filing under 5 U.S.C. § 552, Plaintiffs sought declaratory judgment, attorneys' fees, and a mandamus of disclosure for all responsive records that not specifically exempt from disclosure under the FOIA.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72283932/parties/maizel-v-united-states-equal-employment-opportunity-commission/

Judge(s)

Howell, Beryl Alaine (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Kortz, Mason Andrew (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Howell, Beryl Alaine (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Kortz, Mason Andrew (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-00494	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	Feb. 16, 2026	Feb. 16, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72283932/maizel-v-united-states-equal-employment-opportunity-commission/

Last updated Feb. 23, 2026, 12:06 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12246199) filed by ELISE BERNLOHR MAIZEL, CHRISTOPHER D HAMPSON. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet, # 6 Summons EEOC, # 7 Summons USAO, # 8 Summons AGO)(Kortz, Mason) (Attachment 5 replaced on 2/17/2026) (zmtm). (Entered: 02/16/2026) 1 Exhibit A View on PACER 2 Exhibit B View on PACER 3 Exhibit C View on PACER 4 Exhibit D View on PACER 5 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 6 Summons EEOC View on PACER 7 Summons USAO View on PACER 8 Summons AGO View on PACER	Feb. 16, 2026	Feb. 16, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by CHRISTOPHER D HAMPSON, ELISE BERNLOHR MAIZEL. Case related to Case No. 25-cv-04457. (Kortz, Mason) (Main Document 2 replaced on 2/17/2026) (zmtm). (Entered: 02/16/2026)	Feb. 16, 2026	Feb. 16, 2026
3	SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 02/17/2026)	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
4	SEALED DOCUMENT filed by CHRISTOPHER D HAMPSON, ELISE BERNLOHR MAIZEL(This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Kortz, Mason) (Entered: 02/17/2026)	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
5	Standing Order	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
	Notice of Error- New Case	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell. (zmtm)	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
	NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Noncompliance with LCvR 5.1(c). Please file a Notice of Errata stating the error and attach the corrected initiating pleading to include the name & full residence address of each party and file using the event Errata. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 16, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00494

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket