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

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Case Summary

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 was assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell on February 17, 2026.

Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (2/27/2026)

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 March 22, 2026, 3:09 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
6	Summons Returned Executed in FOIA case as to U.S. Attorney	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026
7	Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026
8	Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant	March 10, 2026	March 10, 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

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Two American law school professors

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

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

Other Dockets:

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

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.:

EEOC-centric:

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Maizel v. United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47835/ (last updated 2/27/2026).