Case: Trustees of Princeton University v. United States Department of Education

1:17-cv-00485 | U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 17, 2017

Closed Date: 2017

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On Mar. 17, 2017, the plaintiff, Princeton University, filed a "reverse Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)" lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education and its sub-agency, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act; 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-706; FOIA; 5 U.S.C. § 552; the Trade Secrets Act; and 18 U.S.C. § 1905, in order to prevent the disclosure of certain commercially sensitive documents and information relating to the University's undergraduate admissions progr…

On Mar. 17, 2017, the plaintiff, Princeton University, filed a "reverse Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)" lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education and its sub-agency, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act; 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-706; FOIA; 5 U.S.C. § 552; the Trade Secrets Act; and 18 U.S.C. § 1905, in order to prevent the disclosure of certain commercially sensitive documents and information relating to the University's undergraduate admissions program submitted to the OCR in the course of an OCR compliance review.

The materials at issue were the subject of a pending FOIA request and accompanying lawsuit to compel disclosure, Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Education.

The materials fell into two categories: documents and information about undergraduate applicants to the University, and documents and information about the University's proprietary admissions processes. The materials pertained to an OCR compliance review had begun in January 2008 after OCR received a complaint alleging that the plaintiff had discriminated against the complainant on the basis of race and national origin in the admissions process. OCR concluded its investigation in September 2015, finding no evidence that the plaintiff had discriminated against the complainant specifically, nor against Asian applicants generally.

The plaintiff maintained that the materials at issue were exempt from disclosure pursuant to a FOIA exemption that exempts from disclosure "trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential." 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4). The plaintiff argued that disclosure of the materials would put it at a substantial competitive disadvantage to identify, evaluate, and enroll prospective students, while potentially also discouraging applicants from applying to the University in the future if they questioned the confidentiality of their application materials.

The plaintiff sought permanent injunctive and declaratory relief to set aside the Department of Education and OCR's final decision to disclose the documents and information as arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law.

The case was assigned to District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan.

On March 30, 2017, Students for Fair Admissions filed a consent motion to intervene as a defendant in the present case and consolidate the case with Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Education. On May 9, 2017, the order was granted and the cases were consolidated.

On July 17, 2017, the defendants filed an unopposed motion to remand and stay. The motion was granted on a week later, on the condition that the parties submit a status report to the court by September 25, 2017, and every 30 days thereafter. On October 25, 2017, the Department of Education informed the court that it had received and was reviewing supplementary material that the plaintiff had submitted. On November 24, 2017, the Department provided an update stating that it planned to respond to the plaintiff on or before December 8, 2017, informing the school of whether the agency found the records exempt from production.

On December 8, 2017, the parties jointly stipulated to dismissal. Three days later, Judge Chutkan signed an order of dismissal, converting the administrative dismissal to a dismissal without prejudice. Each party had to pay their own costs.

The docket does not include any details about the conditions of the parties' joint stipulation to dismissal. The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Elizabeth Greiter (5/7/2018)

Dawn Lui (10/3/2018)

Related Cases

Students for Fair Admissions v. U.S. Department of Education, District of Columbia (2016)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4620225/parties/trustees-of-princeton-university-v-united-states-department-of-education/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Bennett, Michelle Renee (District of Columbia)

Berman, Marcia (District of Columbia)

Braswell, Marina Utgoff (District of Columbia)

Buckingham, Stephen J. (District of Columbia)

Champeaux, Roylene A (District of Columbia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:17-cv-00485

Docket [PACER]

Trustees of Princeton University v. U.S. Department of Education

Dec. 11, 2017

Dec. 11, 2017

Docket
1

1:17-cv-00485

Complaint

Trustees of Princeton University v. U.S. Department of Education

March 17, 2017

March 17, 2017

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4620225/trustees-of-princeton-university-v-united-states-department-of-education/

Last updated March 2, 2024, 3:12 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (md)

March 17, 2017

March 17, 2017

PACER
1

COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-4879326) filed by TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit A, # (2) Exhibit B, # (3) Exhibit C, # (4) Civil Cover Sheet, # (5) Summons, # (6) Summons, # (7) Summons, # (8) Summons)(Harrison, Lindsay)

1 Exhibit A

View on PACER

2 Exhibit B

View on PACER

3 Exhibit C

View on PACER

4 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

5 Summons

View on PACER

6 Summons

View on PACER

7 Summons

View on PACER

8 Summons

View on PACER

March 17, 2017

March 17, 2017

RECAP
2

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY. Case related to Case No. 16-cv-2154. (Harrison, Lindsay)

March 17, 2017

March 17, 2017

PACER
3

SUMMONS (2) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # (1) Notice of Consent) (md)

March 17, 2017

March 17, 2017

PACER
4

Consent MOTION to Intervene and Consolidate by STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. (Attachments: # (1) Proposed Answer, # (2) Text of Proposed Order)(Connolly, John). Added MOTION to Consolidate Cases on 4/7/2017 (zrdj).

March 30, 2017

March 30, 2017

PACER
5

Corporate Disclosure Statement by STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC.. (Connolly, John)

March 30, 2017

March 30, 2017

RECAP
6

NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Patrick Schaefer on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (Schaefer, Daniel)

April 4, 2017

April 4, 2017

PACER

ORDER granting 4 Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.'s Motion to Intervene as a Defendant in this action and granting 4 the Consent Motion to Consolidate Cases. It is hereby ORDERED that cases No. 17-cv-0485-TSC and No. 16-cv-2154-TSC are CONSOLIDATED. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 5/9/2017. (lctsc2)

May 9, 2017

May 9, 2017

PACER

Case consolidated with Member Case no. 16-cv-2154 TSC. NO FILINGS ARE TO BE MADE IN THE MEMBER CASE NO.. ALL FILINGS ARE TO BE MADE IN THE LEAD NO. 17-CV-485 TSC ONLY. (td) Modified on 5/10/2017 (ztd).

May 9, 2017

May 9, 2017

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 11 Joint Motion for Briefing Schedule. Defendant's Answer is due by 5/26/2017. Defendant shall certify and transmit the administrative record and file a certified list of the contents of the record by 6/16/2017. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment is due by 7/17/2017. Amicus briefs in support of Plaintiff's motion are due by 7/24/2017. Defendant's and Defendant-Intervenor's Combined Oppositions and Cross-Motions are due by 9/1/2017. Amicus briefs in support of Cross-Motions are due by 9/8/2017. Plaintiff's Combined Reply and Opposition is due by 9/22/2017. Defendant's and Defendant-Intervenor's Replies are due by 10/20/2017. Copy of the administrative record cited by parties is due to the court by 11/3/2017. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 5/17/2017. (lctsc2)

May 17, 2017

May 17, 2017

PACER
7

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION served on 3/23/2017 (Harrison, Lindsay)

May 17, 2017

May 17, 2017

PACER
8

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/24/2017. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/23/2017. (Harrison, Lindsay)

May 17, 2017

May 17, 2017

PACER
9

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS served on 3/24/2017 (Harrison, Lindsay)

May 17, 2017

May 17, 2017

PACER
10

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 03/24/2017. (Harrison, Lindsay)

May 17, 2017

May 17, 2017

PACER
11

Joint MOTION for Briefing Schedule by STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Connolly, John)

May 17, 2017

May 17, 2017

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines: Administrative Record due by 6/16/2017. Answer due by 5/26/2017. Summary Judgment motion due by 7/17/2017. Response/Cross Motion due by 9/1/2017. Response/Reply to Cross Motion due by 9/22/2017. Reply to Cross Motion due by 10/20/2017. Copy of administrative record cited by parties is due to the court by 11/3/2017. (tb)

May 18, 2017

May 18, 2017

PACER
12

ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.(Schaefer, Daniel)

May 26, 2017

May 26, 2017

PACER
13

ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD (Certified Index) by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. (Schaefer, Daniel)

June 16, 2017

June 16, 2017

PACER
14

MOTION to Supplement the Administrative Record by STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Connolly, John)

June 26, 2017

June 26, 2017

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: To the extent the Trustees of Princeton University or the Defendants object to the Motion to Supplement the Administrative Record 14 filed by STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC., they shall file a response by 7/10/17 of no more than ten pages. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/5/17. (DJS)

July 5, 2017

July 5, 2017

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: Granting in part and denying in part 15 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. Defendants and Plaintiff shall file their response (not to exceed 10 pages) to Defendant-Intervenor's Motion to Supplement the Administrative Record 14 by July 17, 2017. Once the court rules on the pending motion the parties may submit a proposed briefing schedule for summary judgment motions. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/7/17. (DJS)

July 7, 2017

July 7, 2017

PACER
15

Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to [14] MOTION to Supplement the Administrative Record by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel)

July 7, 2017

July 7, 2017

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines: Responses due by 7/17/2017. (tb) Modified on 7/10/2017 (tb).

July 10, 2017

July 10, 2017

PACER
16

Memorandum in opposition to re [14] MOTION to Supplement the Administrative Record filed by TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY. (Harrison, Lindsay)

July 17, 2017

July 17, 2017

RECAP
17

NOTICE of Proposed Order by TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY re [16] Memorandum in Opposition (Harrison, Lindsay)

July 17, 2017

July 17, 2017

RECAP
18

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kevin Matthew Snell on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Daniel Schaefer Associated Cases: 1:17-cv-00485-TSC, 1:16-cv-02154-TSC(Snell, Kevin)

July 17, 2017

July 17, 2017

PACER
19

RESPONSE re [14] MOTION to Supplement the Administrative Record filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Snell, Kevin)

July 17, 2017

July 17, 2017

PACER
20

Unopposed MOTION to Remand and Stay by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Snell, Kevin)

July 17, 2017

July 17, 2017

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: Defendants' Unopposed 20 Motion is hereby GRANTED. This action and the consolidated case (16-cv-2154-TSC) are hereby STAYED. Both proceedings are hereby REMANDED to the agency for further proceedings. Defendants shall file a status report by 9/25/17, and every 30 days thereafter until the proceedings on remanded are finished. In light of the remand, the Court hereby STAYS this case along with the consolidated case (16-cv-2154-TSC) until Defendants notify the Court that they have made their determinations as to whether the documents that Plaintiff challenges are exempt from production. Defendant-Intervenors 14 Motion to Supplement the Administrative Record as hereby denied as moot. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/25/17. (DJS)

July 25, 2017

July 25, 2017

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 7/25/17 order remanding and staying this action and consolidated case 16-cv-2154-TSC, the Clerk of the Court is hereby directed to Administratively Close this case and the consolidated case. However, the parties shall continue to file their Status Reports as required by the 7/25/17 Minute Order. Upon resolution of the proceedings on remand, the parties may file a motion to return both cases to the court's active docket. Any such motion shall contain a proposed order for moving forward with the cases. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/27/17. (DJS)

July 27, 2017

July 27, 2017

PACER
21

STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. (Snell, Kevin)

Sept. 25, 2017

Sept. 25, 2017

PACER
22

STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. (Snell, Kevin)

Oct. 25, 2017

Oct. 25, 2017

PACER
23

STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. (Snell, Kevin)

Nov. 24, 2017

Nov. 24, 2017

RECAP
24

STIPULATION of Dismissal (Joint) by TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY. (Harrison, Lindsay)

Dec. 8, 2017

Dec. 8, 2017

RECAP
25

ORDER OF DISMISSAL: Converting Administrative Dismissal to a dismissal without prejudice. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/11/17. (DJS)

Dec. 11, 2017

Dec. 11, 2017

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 17, 2017

Closing Date: 2017

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The trustees of Princeton University, a private, non-profit educational institution.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Department of Education (DC, District of Columbia), Federal

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (DC, District of Columbia), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

General:

Records Disclosure

Race:

Asian/Pacific Islander