Law Office Of Mark Rosenfeld 8200 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 310-424-3145
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
What Hiring an Attorney Means for Your Case
Switch Up Family Game Night
What Really Happens If I Refuse a Breathalyzer Test?
3
Are Dashcams Worth Your Money?
Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes
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Influential Freedom of Information Act Lawsuits
You never have to go it alone if you’re charged with a crime or facing any other legal issue. If you or a loved one are in trouble with the law, call me right away at 310-424-3145. I’m here to get you the legal help you need (and if your issue is outside of my areas of expertise, I can connect you with other trusted, experienced attorneys).
FOIA LAWSUITS THAT CHANGED HOW AMERICANS PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH
The Freedom of Information Act, commonly referred to as FOIA, has been a crucial part of the democratic system for decades. It was designed to
fees. Rosenfeld is known for having some of the longest-pending FOIA requests and has received over 300,000 pages of FBI documents since the 1980s. The SCOMM Scandal In a landmark FOIA settlement concluded in 2013, the federal government paid $1.2 million to settle a suit brought by several civil rights groups over the Secure Communities (SCOMM) Immigration and Customs Enforcement program. The litigation exposed a plan to create a multi-agency database focused on collecting DNA, a person’s gait, and iris scans. When evidence was uncovered during the litigation, governors of New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts tried to opt their states out of the program, but the Department of Homeland Security determined SCOMM mandatory, according to the Center for Constitutional Rights. The case also changed how the government is required to identify, collect, and produce data for all FOIA requests. FOIA requests as well as the California Public Records Act are tools that most attorneys don't use, however I use them regularly to get information and documents to defend my clients.
improve public access to governmental records, but unfortunately, it doesn’t always work as intended. In most cases, requests are only answered if a lawsuit is filed. Nevertheless, FOIA has had a crucial role in many high-profile legal cases. Here are a couple of the most significant ones in American history. One Journalist’s 16 Years in Court Californial-based journalist Seth Rosenfeld (not related to me) has had some serious contention with the FBI. In 1985, he filed his first lawsuit against the FBI for ignoring his requests for information about the Berkeley protests of the 1960s. The case was eventually settled in 1996, and Rosenfeld was awarded $560,000 in fees. In their settlement agreement, the FBI agreed to be more thorough with FOIA requests. Rosenfeld filed a second lawsuit in 2007 accusing the FBI of withholding information during former President Ronald Regan’s presidency. Five years later, he was awarded $479,459 in attorney
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