VIRGINIA M. HERNANDEZ COVINGTON, District Judge.
This cause is before the Court pursuant to Plaintiffs' Motion to Vacate Judgment of Dismissal (Doc. # 50), filed on June 28, 2012. Defendant filed a Response in Opposition (Doc. # 51) on July 6, 2012. For the reasons that follow, the Court denies the Motion.
Plaintiffs sought information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) concerning "communications regarding the City of Tarpon Springs, Florida or the residence located at — Harbour Watch Circle, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689, between January 1, 2007 and the present date" pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 (FOIA). (Doc. # 1-1 at 1). Plaintiffs were represented by Lee L. Haas, Esq., who sent various FOIA requests to FEMA, but failed to include Plaintiffs' names on the FOIA requests. When FEMA failed to provide the information requested by Mr. Haas, Plaintiffs filed their Complaint for Injunctive Relief (Doc. # 1) on February 2, 2011. Plaintiffs attached a copy of the FOIA requests and related correspondence to the Complaint.
On April 24, 2012, Defendant sought an order dismissing the Complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), Fed.R.Civ.P., based on the fact that Plaintiffs' names do not appear on the FOIA requests and correspondence. (Doc. # 36). On May 31, 2012, after hearing from Plaintiffs (Doc. # 39), the Court entered an Order dismissing this case. (Doc. # 49). The Court explained that because the Plaintiffs were not disclosed by name in the FOIA requests, they lacked standing to bring the present suit. At this juncture, Plaintiffs assert that they have new evidence warranting reconsideration of the Court's dismissal of their case.
Plaintiffs' motion for reconsideration will be decided under Rule 59(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
This Court recognizes three grounds to justify reconsideration of a prior order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e): "(1) an intervening change in controlling law; (2) the availability of new evidence; and (3) the need to correct clear error or manifest injustice."
In dismissing the present case due to Plaintiffs' lack of standing, this Court focused on the fact that "Plaintiffs were not mentioned by name in the FOIA requests or related correspondence." (Doc. # 49 at 3). Seeking reconsideration after this case has been closed, Plaintiffs come forward with correspondence from Senator Bill Nelson in which Senator Nelson reports on the results of his inquiry on Plaintiffs' behalf to FEMA. The documents include a facsimile from FEMA to Senator Nelson dated August 6, 2010, referencing Brian Wingate and a letter dated July 30, 2010, similarly referencing Brian Wingate. (Doc. # 50 at 6-7). To be certain, Plaintiffs have now provided this Court with some FEMA documents referring to Brian Wingate. However, at this belated juncture, the Court determines that these documents do not warrant reconsideration.
First, the Court finds that the documents do not constitute "new evidence" because Plaintiffs candidly admit that they had the documents on file prior to the entry of the Court's Order of dismissal. As discussed in
Even if the Court were to consider this belatedly submitted evidence, such evidence would not change the outcome of this case. As noted, Defendant raised a Rule 12(b)(1) facial challenge to the Court's jurisdiction. In conducting its analysis, the Court was confined to the four corners of the Complaint and attached exhibits (the initial FOIA request made by attorney Haas on February 8, 2010, and his subsequent communications with FEMA). The correspondence from Senator Nelson concerning the Wingates, dated six months after attorney Haas's FOIA request to FEMA, has no bearing on the issue of whether Plaintiffs' Complaint establishes the Court's jurisdiction.
Plaintiffs' standing in a FOIA enforcement case does not turn on the fact that a letter or facsimile, sent months after the initial FEMA request was made, might indicate that attorney Haas represents the Wingates. As explained in
As this Court has previously noted, FOIA requests must be in writing, 31 C.F.R. § 1.5(c)(1), and because the FOIA requests at issue did not indicate that they were presented by or on behalf of the Wingates, or otherwise mention the Wingates by name, the Wingates lack standing to bring the present action. The Court declines to reconsider its dismissal of this action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Accordingly, it is
Plaintiffs' Motion to Vacate Judgment of Dismissal (Doc. # 50) is