EEOC cases for Scientology training programs (1985-1998)

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

Thank you for contacting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is an automated response to the EEOC FOIA email box, and is not a determination on your request for records. If it is determined that your request is a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it will be forwarded to the appropriate FOIA component within 10 working days of its receipt. You will also receive an official acknowledgment that your FOIA request has been received and when you can expect a response.

This office is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Requests submitted after close of business are not deemed received until the next business day. FOIA allows government agencies 20 business days to issue a determination on a FOIA request for records. Additionally, agencies may extend their response time by 10 business days in unusual circumstances, and toll the 20-day response time until a response is received to a reasonable request for clarification or fee information. You will be notified in writing if such an extension or tolling occurs.

While the EEOC will forward electronic responses, including records granted, in accordance with the FOIA, the official determination will be issued in paper format, including an original signature. Therefore, if you did not provide a physical mailing address in your original e-mail, we will be unable to issue a determination on your FOIA request.

You may contact our office at any time between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm at 202-663-4500 or by fax at 202-653-6034.

Thank-you,
EEOC Office of FOIA Programs

*Please visit our website at www.eeoc.gov to access information concerning FOIA administration at the EEOC, including the following FOIA related documents:

The EEOC FOIA Reference Guide provides basic information, such as where and how to make a FOIA request, the time for EEOC to respond to a request, fees and fee waivers, responses to initial requests, and how and where to file an appeal of a determination made on the initial FOIA request. The Guide can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/handbook.html

EEOC Freedom of Information Act Questions and Answers can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/qanda_foiarequest.html

EEOC Freedom of Information Act Requests for Charge Files Questions and Answers can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/qanda_foiacharge.html

>>> <requests@muckrock.com> 05/05/15 10:52 >>>

May 5, 2015
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Stephanie D. Garner
Assistant Legal Counsel/FOIA
EEOC - OLC/FOIA Programs
131 M Street NE, Suite 5NW02E
Washington, DC 20507

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

A copy of any initial complaints filed in federal court from January 1, 1985 through December 31, 1998 for religious discrimination charges against employers who terminated or penalized employees that refused to participate Scientology-based training programs.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest due to the long-standing history of controversies related to the teachings of the Church of Scientology being taught as secular programs that the IRS failed to acknowledge when they granted the organization tax exempt status in 1993. Questions regarding Scientology's special tax exemption has drawn a lot of public scrutiny and criticism in the wake of a recent HBO documentary. Therefore, the disclosure of the documents I am seeking will help foster a better public understanding of how other government agencies have historically dealt with issues that should have impacted the IRS decision. For more information, please see:

http://bit.ly/1dKsOb2
http://bit.ly/1QiAa3t
http://bit.ly/1EdogPS
http://lat.ms/1I3zwSA

Additionally, the requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Ms. R. M. Seibert

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 17720
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

PLEASE NOTE the new address as well as the fact that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than MuckRock News) requests might be returned by the USPS as undeliverable.

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

A no responsive documents response.