Court Reverses Ruling Blocking Release of Farm Information
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
March 4, 2008
Charles D. "Chuck" Tobin- Washington
Media law attorney Chuck Tobin was quoted in an article about the Multi Ag Media LLC v. Department of Agriculture case, in which a U.S. Court of Appeals panel remanded a lower court's decision to deny the release of 13 databases pertaining to its subsidy and benefit programs. The USDA had cited privacy issues in withholding files and invoked Freedom of Information Act Exemption 6; the appeals court reversed the district court's ruling, stating that the public has a "particular and significant interest" in these programs.
Tobin, who was not counsel in this case but led the successful appeal of a similarly successful battle – a long-running FOIA lawsuit on behalf of Gannett newspapers – said, "Without access to the Compliance file and the Geographic Information System database, the public could not know if the agency is doing its job regarding the farmers' subsidy and benefit program."