KLAYMAN v. OBAMA et al
Filing
37
SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT against KEITH B. ALEXANDER, ERIC H. HOLDER, JR, LOWELL C. MCADAMS, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, II, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, ROGER VINSON filed by MARY ANN STRANGE, LARRY E. KLAYMAN, CHARLES STRANGE.(znmw, )
IN UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
LARRY KLAYMAN, on behalf of himself
and all others similarly situated,
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
and
CHARLES AND MARY ANN STRANGE, on behalf
of themselves and all others similarly situated,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Plaintiffs,
v.
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA II,
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
and
ERIC HIMPTON HOLDER, JR.,
555 Fourth St. NW
Washington, DC 20530
and
KEITH B. ALEXANDER
Director of the National Security Agency,
9800 Savage Rd.
Fort Meade, MD 20755
and
LOWELL C. McADAM,
Chief Executive Officer of Verizon Communications
140 West Street
New York, NY 10007
and
ROGER VINSON,
Judge, U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
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Civil Action No. 13-CV-851
950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20530
and
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS,
140 West Street
New York, NY 10007
and
NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY,
Director of the National Security Agency,
9800 Savage Rd.
Fort Meade, MD 20755
and
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20530
Defendants.
CLASS ACTION SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, Larry Klayman, a former U.S. Department of Justice prosecutor, and Plaintiffs
Charles and Mary Ann Strange (collectively “Plaintiffs”) bring this action on their own behalf
and on behalf of a class of persons defined below. Plaintiffs hereby sue Barack Hussein Obama,
Eric Holder, Keith B. Alexander, Lowell McAdam, Roger Vinson, Verizon Communications, the
U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), and the National Security Agency (“NSA”), (collectively
“Defendants”), in their personal and official capacities, for violating Plaintiffs’ constitutional
rights, Plaintiffs’ reasonable expectation of privacy, free speech and association, right to be free
of unreasonable searches and seizures, and due process rights, as well as certain common law
claims, for directly and proximately causing Plaintiffs mental and physical pain and suffering
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and harm as a result of the below pled illegal and criminal acts. Plaintiffs and members of the
class pled below allege as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1. This is an action for violations of the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the U.S.
Constitution. This is also an action for violations of privacy, including intrusion upon
seclusion, freedom of expression and association, due process, and other illegal acts.
Plaintiffs bring this action on behalf of themselves and all other similarly situated consumers,
users, and U.S. citizens who are customers and users of Defendant Verizon Communications
(“Verizon”).
2. This case challenges the legality of Defendants’ participation and conduct in a secret and
illegal government scheme to intercept and analyze vast quantities of domestic telephonic
communications. Specifically, on June 5, 2013, The Guardian posted a classified order from
the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court directing Verizon to turn over, “on an
ongoing daily basis,” the following tangible things: “All call detail records or “telephony
metadata” created by Verizon for communications (i) between the United States and abroad;
or (ii) wholly within the United States, including local telephone calls.”
3. This would give the NSA over one hundred millions phone records on a daily basis. The
information would also include a list of all the people that Verizon customers call and who
called them; how long they spoke; and perhaps, where they were on a given day. Further,
there is nothing in the order requiring the government to destroy the records after a certain
amount of time nor is there any provisions limiting who can see and hear the data.
4.
The order, issued and signed by Judge Roger Vinson, violates the U.S. Constitution and also
federal laws, including, but not limited to, the outrageous breach of privacy, freedom of
speech, freedom of association, and the due process rights of American citizens.
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5. This surveillance program was authorized and ordered by the President and primarily
undertaken by the NSA and the other Defendants, intercepting and analyzing the
communication of hundreds of millions of Americans. Prior to this disclosure and revelation,
Plaintiffs and class members had no reasonable opportunity to discover the existence of the
surveillance program or the violation of the laws alleged herein.
6. Defendant Verizon maintains domestic telecommunications facilities over which hundreds of
millions of Americans’ telephone communications pass every day. They also manage some
of the largest databases in the world containing records of most or all communications made
through their myriad telecommunications services and operations.
7. Defendant Verizon has opened its key telecommunication databases to direct access by the
NSA and/or other government agencies, intercepting and disclosing to the government the
contents of its customers as well as detailed communication records over one hundred
million of its customers, including Plaintiffs and class members. On information and belief,
Defendant Verizon continues to assist the government in its secret surveillance of over one
hundred million of ordinary Americans citizens just on a daily basis.
8. Plaintiffs and members of the class are suing for declaratory relief, damages, and injunctive
relief to stop this illegal conduct and hold Defendants, individually and collectively,
responsible for their illegal collaboration in the surveillance program, which has violated the
law and damaged the fundamental freedoms of American citizens.
THE PARTIES
9. Plaintiff Larry Klayman is an individual and an attorney who is a subscriber and user of
Verizon Wireless at all material times. In fact, on information and belief, Plaintiff Larry
Klayman has been a subscriber and user of Verizon Wireless for many years. Plaintiff Larry
Klayman resided in the District of Columbia (“D.C”) for over twenty years and continues to
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conduct business in Washington, D.C. as the Chairman and General Counsel of Freedom
Watch and otherwise. Plaintiff Larry Klayman is a public advocate and has filed lawsuits
against President Obama and has been highly critical of the Obama administration as a
whole. On information and belief, Defendants have accessed the records pertaining to
Plaintiff Larry Klayman pursuant to the Order issued by Defendant Vinson in addition to
accessing his telephone conversations.
10. Plaintiffs Charles and Mary Ann Strange are the parents of Michael Strange, a member of
Navy SEAL Team VI who was killed when the helicopter he was in was attacked and shot
down by terrorist Taliban jihadists in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. On information and
belief, Defendants have accessed Plaintiffs Charles and Mary Ann Strange’s phone records
particularly since these Plaintiffs have been vocal about their criticism of President Obama as
commander-in-chief, his administration, and the U.S. military regarding the circumstances
surrounding the shoot down of their son’s helicopter in Afghanistan, which resulted in the
death of their son and other Navy Seal Team VI members and special operation forces.
Plaintiffs Charles and Mary Ann Strange have substantial connections with Washington,
D.C., as they hold press conferences in Washington, D.C. and lobby in Washington, D.C. as
an advocate for their son and to obtain justice for him, as well as to change the policies and
orders of President Obama and the U.S. military’s acts and practices, which contributed to
their son’s death.
11. Defendant Barack Hussein Obama ("Obama") is the President of the United States and
currently resides in Washington, D.C.
12. Defendant Eric Holder ("Holder") is the Attorney General of the United States and conducts
his duties as the Attorney General in Washington, D.C.
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13. The National Security Agency ("NSA") is an intelligence agency of the U.S. Department of
Defense and conduct its duties in Washington, D.C.
14. Defendant Keith B. Alexander ("Alexander") is the Director of the National Security
Agency. He is also the commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, where he is responsible for
planning, coordinating, and conducting operations of computer networks. He is also at the
command for U.S. National Security Information system protection responsibilities. He
conducts his duties for the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C.
15. The U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") is a U.S. federal executive department responsible
for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, and its headquarters is located in
Washington, D.C., where it conducts most of its activities and business.
16. Defendant Lowell C. McAdam ("McAdam") is the Chief Executive Officer of Verizon
Communications.
17. Defendant Roger Vinson ("Vinson") is a judge to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court.
18. Defendant Verizon Communications ("Verizon") is an American broadband and
telecommunications company. Defendant Verizon is a Delaware corporation with its
principal place of business in New York. Defendant Verizon, at all material times, conducted
business in Washington, D.C., including maintaining business offices in D.C., advertising in
D.C., and conducting lobbying activities in D.C. Defendant is a telecommunication carrier,
and offers electronic communications service(s) to the public and remote commuting
service(s). Defendant Verizon is responsible, along with the other Defendants, for the illegal
acts alleged herein and Defendant Verizon and the other Defendants proximately caused the
injuries to Plaintiffs and class members herein alleged.
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19. All of these Defendants, each and every one of them, jointly and severally, acted in concert
to violate the constitutional privacy rights, free speech, freedom of association, due process
and other legal rights of Plaintiffs and all other American citizens similarly situated who are
members of the classes pled herein.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
20. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1331
(Federal Question Jurisdiction).
21. Jurisdiction and venue are proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1331, which states in pertinent part,
“[t]he district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions arising under the
Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” At issue here is the unconstitutional
violation of Plaintiffs' rights under the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the U.S.
Constitution.
22. Supplemental jurisdiction is also proper under 28 U.S.C. §1367, which states in pertinent
part, " . . .in any civil action of which the district courts have original jurisdiction, the district
courts shall have supplemental jurisdiction over all other claims that are so related to claims
in the action within such original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or
controversy under Article III of the U.S. Constitution.
23. Plaintiffs are informed, believes and thereon alleges that, based on the places of business of
the Defendants and/or on the national reach of Defendants, a substantial part of the events
giving rise to the claims herein alleged occurred in this district and that Defendants and/or
agents of Defendants may be found in this district.
STANDING
24. Plaintiffs and members of the class bring this action because they have been directly affected,
victimized and severely damaged by the unlawful conduct complained herein. Their injuries
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are proximately related to the egregious, illegal and criminal acts of Defendants Obama,
Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA, each and every one
of them, jointly and severely.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
25. The NSA began a classified surveillance program to intercept the telephone communications
of persons inside the United States, a program that continues to this date. The U.S.
government, on the orders authorization of the President, the Attorney General, the DOJ and
the NSA, has obtained a top secret court order that directs Verizon to turn over the telephone
records of over one hundred million Americans to the NSA on an ongoing daily basis.
26. On April 25, 2013, Defendant Judge Roger Vinson, acting in his official and personal
capacities and under the authority of Defendant Obama, his Attorney General and the DOJ,
ordered that the Custodian of Records shall produce the production of tangible things from
Verizon Business Network Services, Inc. on behalf of MCI Communication Services Inc,
individually and collectively, to the NSA and continue production on an ongoing daily basis
thereafter.
27. Defendant Vinson ordered access to electronic copies of the following tangible things: all
call detail records or "telephony metadata" created by Verizon for communications (i)
between the United States and abroad; or (ii) wholly within the United States, including local
telephone calls. Telephony metadata includes comprehensive communications routing
information, including but not limited to session identifying information (e.g. originating and
terminating telephone number, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number,
International Mobile station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, etc.) trunk identifier,
telephone calling card numbers, and time and duration of call.
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28. Defendant Vinson’s Order requires Verizon to turn over originating and terminating
telephone numbers as well as the location, time, and duration of the calls. In essence, the
Order gives the NSA blanket access to the records of over a hundred million of Verizon
customers’ domestic and foreign phone calls made between April 25, 2013, when the Order
was signed, and July 19, 2013, when the Order is supposed to, on its face, expire.
29. Defendant Vinson, in an attempt to keep his illegal acts and those of other Defendants as a
secret, further ordered that no person shall disclose to any other person that the FBI or NSA
has sought or obtained tangible things under his order.
30. Based on knowledge and belief, this Order issued by Defendant Vinson is the broadest
surveillance order to ever have been issued; it requires no level of reasonable suspicion or
probable cause and incredibly applies to all Verizon subscribers and users anywhere in the
United States and overseas.
31. Defendant Vinson's Order shows for the first time that, under Defendant Obama's
administration, the communication records of over one hundred million of U.S. citizens are
being collected indiscriminately and in bulk - regardless of whether there is reasonable
suspicion or any “probable cause” of any wrongdoing.
32. On June 5, 2013, The Guardian published an article entitled, "NSA collecting phone records
of millions of Verizon customers daily. Exclusive: Top secret court order requiring Verizon
to hand over all call data shows scale of domestic surveillance under Obama."
33. Since June 5, 2013, Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdan, Vinson, Verizon, the
DOJ, and the NSA have been widely condemned among American citizens regarding their
failure to uphold the U.S. Constitution and intentionally violating the fundamental rights of
Plaintiffs, members of the class, and over one hundred million of other Americans.
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34. As just one example, Senator Rand Paul called the surveillance of Verizon phone records "an
astounding assault on the constitution," and has called for a class action lawsuit such as this
one.
35. In fact, the news of Judge Vinson’s Order comes as the Obama administration is under fire
following revelations that the DOJ has seized two months of telephone records of a number
of Associated Press’ reporters and editors, claiming that the requests were part of an
investigation into the leak of classified information, as well as the telephone records and
emails of reporters and management of Fox News. This is thus a pattern of egregious
ongoing illegal, criminal activity.
36. Such schemes by the Defendants in concert with the government have subjected untold
number of innocent people to the constant surveillance of government agents. As Jameel
Jaffeer, the ACLU’s deputy legal director, stated, “It is beyond Orwellian, and it provides
further evidence of the extent to which basic democratic rights are being surrendered in
secret to the demands of unaccountable intelligence agencies.”
37. To date, Defendants have not issued substantive and meaningful explanations to the
American people describing what has occurred. To the contrary, criminal charges are
reportedly being pursued by Defendants Obama, Holder, the DOJ, and the NSA against the
leakers of this plot against American citizens in a further effort suppress, obstruct justice, and
to keep Defendants’ illegal actions as secret as possible.
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
38. Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 23(a) and Rule 23(b), Plaintiffs brings
this action on behalf of themselves and a nationwide class (the “Nationwide Class”) of
similarly situated persons defined as: All American citizens in the United States and overseas
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who are current subscribers or customers of Defendant Verizon’s telephone services at any
material time, including but not limited to, April 25, 2013 to July 19, 2013.
39. Plaintiffs also bring this action on behalf of themselves and other American citizens who, in
addition to being members of the Nationwide Class, had their telephone calls actually
recorded and/or listened into by or on behalf of Defendants (the “Subclass”).
40. The Nationwide Class and Subclass seek certification of claims for declaratory relief,
injunctive relief and damages pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2707.
41. Excluded from the Nationwide Class and the Subclass are the officers, directors, and
employees of Defendant Verizon, the legal representatives, heirs, successors, and assigns of
Defendants, and all judges who may ever adjudicate this case.
42. This action is brought as a class action and may be so maintained pursuant to the provisions
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 23. Plaintiffs reserve the right to modify the
Nationwide Class and Subclass definitions and the class period based on the results of
discovery.
43. Numerosity of the Nationwide Class: The National Class and the Subclass (collectively
referred to below as the “Class”) are so numerous that the individual joinder of all members,
in this or any action is impracticable. The exact number or identification of Class members is
presently unknown to Plaintiffs, but it is believed that the Class numbers over a hundred
million citizens. The identity of Class members and their addresses may be ascertained from
Defendants’ records. Class members may be informed of the pendency of this action by a
combination of direct mail and public notice, or other means, including through records
possessed by Defendants.
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44. Commonality: There is a well-defined community of interest in the questions of law and fact
involved affecting the members of the Class. These common legal and factual questions
include:
a. Whether Defendants have divulged subscriber information or other records
pertaining to Class members in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2702(a)(3), or are
currently doing so;
b. Whether Plaintiffs and Class members are entitled to recover compensatory,
statutory and punitive damages, whether as a result of Defendants’ illegal
conduct, and/or otherwise;
c. Whether Plaintiffs and Class members are entitled to declaratory, injunctive
and/or equitable relief; and
d. Whether Plaintiffs and Class members are entitled to an award of reasonable
attorneys’ fees, pre-judgment interest, and costs of this suit.
45. Typicality: Plaintiffs’ claims are typical of the claims of the members of the Class because
Plaintiffs and the Class members are or were a subscriber to the telephone services of
Defendant Verizon. Plaintiffs and all members of the Class have similarly suffered harm
arising from Defendants’ violations of law, as alleged herein.
46. Adequacy: Plaintiffs are adequate representatives of the Class because their interests do not
conflict with the interests of the members of the Class they seek to represent. Plaintiffs intend
to prosecute this action vigorously. Plaintiffs will fairly and adequately protect the interest of
the members of the Class.
47. This suit may also be maintained as a class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 23(b)(2) because Plaintiffs and the Class seek declaratory and injunctive relief,
and all of the above factors of numerosity, common questions of fact and law, typicality and
adequacy are present. Defendants have acted on grounds generally applicable to Plaintiffs
and the Class as a whole, thereby making declaratory and/or injunctive relief proper.
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48. Predominance and Superiority: This suit may also be maintained as a class action under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3) because questions of law and fact common to the
Class predominate over the questions affecting only individual members of the Class and a
class action is superior to other available means for the fair and efficient adjudication of this
dispute. The damages suffered by each individual Class member, depending on the
circumstances, may be relatively small or modest, especially given the burden and expense of
individual prosecution of the complex and extensive litigation necessitated by Defendants’
conduct. Furthermore, it would be virtually impossible for the Class members, on an
individual basis, to obtain effective redress for the wrongs done to them. Moreover, even if
Class members themselves could afford such individual litigation, the court system could not.
Individual litigation presents a potential for inconsistent or contradictory judgments.
Individualized litigation increases the delay and expenses to all parties and the court system
presented by the complex legal issues of the case. By contrast, the class action device
presents far fewer management difficulties and provides the benefits of a single adjudication,
economy of scale, and comprehensive supervision by a single court.
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Fifth Amendment Violation – Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson)
(Bivens v. VI Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics)
49. Plaintiffs and the members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 48 of this Amended Complaint with the same force and affect, as if
fully set forth herein again at length.
50. Plaintiffs and the members of the Class enjoy a liberty interest in their personal security and
in being free from the Defendants’ and the government's use of unnecessary and excessive
force or intrusion against his person.
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51. Plaintiffs and the members of the Class enjoy a liberty of not being deprived of life without
due process of law, as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
52. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, the DOJ, and the NSA violated Plaintiffs' and the
Class members’ constitutional rights when they caused Defendant Vinson's order to be
illegally granted, thereby giving the government and themselves unlimited authority to obtain
telephone data for a specified amount of time.
53. By reason of the wrongful conduct of the Defendants, each and every one of them, jointly
and severally, Plaintiffs and members of the Class suffered and continue to suffer from
severe emotional distress and physical harm, pecuniary and economic damage, loss of
services, and loss of society accordingly.
54. These violations are compensable under Bivens v. VI Unknown Named Agents of Federal
Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). As a direct and proximate result of the intentional
and willful actions of Defendants Obama, Holder, and Alexander, and Vinson, Plaintiffs and
members of the Class demand judgment be entered against Defendants Obama, Holder, and
Alexander, and Vinson, each and every one of them, jointly and severally, including an
award of compensatory and actual damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, reasonable
attorneys fees, pre-judgment interest, post-interest and costs, and an award in an amount in
excess of $3 billion U.S. dollars, and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
Plaintiffs and the members of the Class demand declaratory and injunctive and other
equitable relief against all of Defendants as set forth below.
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(First Amendment Violation - Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson)
(Bivens v. VI Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics)
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55. Plaintiffs and members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 54 of this Amended Complaint with the same force and affect, as if
fully set forth herein again at length.
56. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson, acting in their official capacity and
personally, abridged and violated Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ First Amendment right of
freedom of speech and association by significantly minimizing and chilling Plaintiffs’ and
Class members’ freedom of expression and association.
57. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson's acts chill, if not “kill,” speech by
instilling in Plaintiffs, members of the Class, and over a hundred million of Americans the
fear that their personal and business conversations with other U.S. citizens and foreigners are
in effect tapped and illegally surveyed.
58. In addition, Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson, acting in their official
capacity and personally, violated Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ right of freedom of
association by making them and others weary and fearful of contacting other persons and
entities via cell phone out of fear of the misuse of government power and retaliation against
these persons and entities who challenge the misuse of government power.
59. By reason of the wrongful conduct of these Defendants, Plaintiffs and members of the Class
suffered and continue to suffer from severe emotional distress and physical harm, pecuniary
and economic damage, loss of services, and loss of society accordingly.
60. These violations are compensable under Bivens v. VI Unknown Named Agents of Federal
Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
61. As a direct and proximate result of the intentional and willful actions of Defendants Obama,
Holder, and Alexander, and Vinson, Plaintiffs and members of the Class demand that
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judgment be entered against Defendants Obama, Holder, and Alexander, and Vinson, each
and every one of them, jointly and severally, including an award of compensatory and actual
damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, reasonable attorneys fees, pre-judgment interest,
post-interest and costs, and an award in an amount in excess of $3 billion U.S. dollars and
such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Fourth Amendment Violation - Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson)
(Bivens v. VI Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics)
62. Plaintiffs and members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 61 of this Amended Complaint with the same force and affect, as if
fully set forth herein again at length.
63. The Fourth Amendment provides in pertinent part that people have a right to be secure in
their persons against unreasonable searches and seizures, that warrants shall not be issued but
upon probable cause, and that the place of search must be described with particularity.
64. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson, acting in their official capacities and
personally, violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when they unreasonably
searched and seized and continue to search Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ phone records and
millions of innocent U.S. citizens' records without reasonable suspicion or probable cause.
65. Defendants Obama, Holder, and Alexander, and Vinson, acting in their official capacity and
personally, violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by not describing with
particularity the place to be searched or the person or things to be seized.
66. In fact, the blanket and vastly overbroad order issued by Defendant Vinson, acting on behalf
of the federal government and therefore Defendant Obama as he is the chief executive of the
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federal government, as well as the other Defendants, does not state with any particularity
who and what may be searched.
67. The collection and production of the phone records allows Defendant NSA to build easily
and indiscriminately a comprehensive picture and profile of any individual contacted, how
and when, and possibly from where, retrospectively and into the future.
68. By reason of the wrongful conduct of Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson,
Plaintiffs and members of the Class suffered and continue to suffer from severe emotional
distress and physical harm, pecuniary and economic damage, loss of services, and loss of
society accordingly.
69. These violations are compensable under Bivens v. VI Unknown Named Agents of Federal
Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). As a direct and proximate result of the intentional
and willful actions of Defendants Obama, Holder, and Alexander, and Vinson, Plaintiffs and
members of the Class demand judgment be entered against Defendants Obama, Holder, and
Alexander, and Vinson, each and every one of them, jointly and severally, including an
award of compensatory and actual damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, reasonable
attorneys fees, pre-judgment interest, post-interest and costs, and an award in an amount in
excess of $3 billion U.S. dollars and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress - Each and Every Defendant)
70. Plaintiffs and members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 69 of this Amended Complaint with the same force and affect, as if
fully set forth herein again at length.
71. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA's
willful acts constitute outrageous conduct insofar as they violated Plaintiffs’ and Class
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members’ basic democratic rights, constitutional rights, and exposed them to beyond an
"Orwellian regime of totalitarianism." Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ rights are being
surrendered in secret to the demands of unaccountable intelligence and other government
agencies, as well as all of the Defendants.
72. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA
intended to cause Plaintiffs and members of the Class emotional distress and physical harm
and acted in reckless disregard causing Plaintiffs and members of the Class emotional
distress by committing these acts. The only purpose of this outrageous and illegal conduct is
to intimidate American citizens and keep them from challenging a tyrannical administration
and government presently controlled by the Defendants, a government which seeks to control
virtually every aspect of Plaintiffs, members of the Class, and other American's lives, to
further its own, and Defendants "agendas."
73. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, and Vinson were agents of the United States and
acted personally when they committed these acts.
74. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdam,
Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA's acts, Plaintiffs and members of the Class suffered
and Plaintiffs and members of the Class continue to suffer mental anguish, and severe
emotional distress and physical harm.
75. By reason of the wrongful conduct of Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, Vinson,
McAdam, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA, Plaintiffs and members of the Class suffered and
continue to suffer from severe emotional distress and physical harm, pecuniary and economic
damage, loss of services, and loss of society accordingly.
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76. Plaintiffs and members of the Class demand that judgment be entered against Defendants
Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA, each and
every one of them, jointly and severally, including an award of compensatory and actual
damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, reasonable attorneys fees, pre-judgment interest,
post-interest, costs, and an award in an amount in excess of $3 billion U.S. dollars and such
other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Intrusion Upon Seclusion - Each and Every Defendant)
77. Plaintiffs and members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 76 of this Amended Complaint with the same force and effect, as if
fully set forth herein again at length.
78. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA
intentionally intruded upon the solitude and seclusion of Plaintiffs and members of the Class
in their private affairs and concerns in a highly offensive way, and are liable for the invasion
of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ privacy.
79. Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA
intruded upon the seclusion of Plaintiffs and members of the Class when they unreasonably
and without probable cause obtained access to Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ phone records
including but not limited to their location data, call duration, unique identifiers, and the time
and duration of his calls, and on information and belief, listened into and recorded calls.
Defendants, Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA's acts are
highly offensive to a reasonable person. Therefore, Defendants are liable for their intrusion.
80. By reason of the wrongful conduct of Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander, Vinson,
McAdam, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA, Plaintiffs and members of the Class suffered and
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continue to suffer from severe emotional distress and physical harm, pecuniary and economic
damage, loss of services, and loss of society accordingly. Plaintiffs, and other members of the
Class, demand that judgment be entered against Defendants Obama, Holder, Alexander,
McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA, each and every one of them, jointly and
severally, for violating their constitutional rights, subjecting them to unreasonable searches
and seizures, and on intrusion upon seclusion, including an award of compensatory and
actual damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, reasonable attorneys fees, pre-judgment
interest, post-interest, costs, and an award in an amount in excess of $3 billion U.S. dollars
and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Divulgence of Communication Records in Violation of
18 U.S.C. §§2702(a)(1) and/or (a)(2) – Defendant Verizon and Defendant McAdam
Referred in this Count as “Defendants”)
81. Plaintiffs and members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 80 of this Amended Complaint with the same force and effect, as if
fully set forth herein again at length.
82. In relevant part, 18 U.S.C. §2702 provides that:
“(a) Prohibitions. – Exception as provided in subsection (b) – (1) a person or entity
providing an electronic communication service to the public shall not knowingly
divulge to any person or entity the contents of a communication while in electronic
storage by that service; and (2) a person or entity providing remote computing service
to the public shall not knowingly divulge to any person or entity the contents of any
communication which is carried or maintained on that service – (A) on behalf of, and
received by means of electronic transmission from (or created by means of computer
processing of communications received by means of electronic transmission from), a
subscriber or customer of such service; (B) solely for the purpose of providing
storage or computer processing services to such subscriber or customer, if the
provider is not authorized to access the contents of any such communication for
purposes of providing any services other than storage or computer processing…”
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83. On information and belief, Defendants knowingly or intentionally divulged to one or more
persons or entities the contents of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ records.
84. Communication while in electronic storage by Defendant’s electronic communication
service and/or while carried or maintained by Defendants’ remote computing service, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§2702(a)(1) and/or (a)(2).
85. Defendants did not notify Plaintiffs or Class members of the divulgence of their
communications, nor did Plaintiffs or Class members consent to such.
86. On information and belief, Defendants are now engaging in and will continue to engage in
the above-described divulgence of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ communications while in
electronic storage by Defendants’ electronic communication service(s), and/or while carried
or maintained by Defendants’ remote computing service(s), and that likelihood represents a
credible threat of immediate future harm. Plaintiffs and Class members additionally seek a
declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2201 that Defendants’ action violated 18 U.S.C. §2702,
and seek reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2202.
87. Plaintiffs and Class members have been and are aggrieved by Defendants’ above-described
knowing or intentional divulgence of records or other information pertaining to Plaintiffs and
Class members.
88. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2707, which provides a civil action for any person aggrieved by
knowing or intentional violation of 18 U.S.C. §2702, Plaintiffs and Class members seek such
preliminary and other equitable or declaratory relief as may be appropriate; monetary
damages for each aggrieved Plaintiffs or Class member; punitive damages as the Court
considers just; and reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
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SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Divulgence of Communication Records in Violation of
18 U.S.C. §§2702(a)(1) and/or (a)(2) –Defendant Verizon and Defendant McAdam Referred
in this Count as “Defendants”)
89. Plaintiffs and members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 88 of this Amended Complaint with the same force and effect, as if
fully set forth herein again at length.
90. In relevant part, 18 U.S.C. §2702 provides that:
“(a) Prohibitions. – Exception as provided in subsection (b) – (3) a provider of remote
computing service or electronic communication service to the public shall not knowingly
divulge a record or other information pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of such
service (not including the contents of communications covered by paragraph (1) or (2) to
any governmental entity.
91. On information and belief, Defendants, providers of remote computing service and electronic
communication services to the public, knowingly or intentionally divulged records or other
information pertaining to Plaintiffs and Class members to a governmental entity in violation
of 18 U.S.C. §2702(a)(3).
92. On information and belief, Defendants knowingly or intentionally divulged to one or more
persons or entities the contents of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ records.
93. On information and belief, Defendants are now engaging in and will continue to engage in
the above-described knowing or intentional divulgence of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’
communications while in electronic storage by Defendant Verizon’s electronic
communication service(s), and/or while carried or maintained by Defendant Verizon’s
remote computing service(s), and that likelihood represents a credible threat of immediate
future harm. Plaintiffs and Class members additionally seek a declaration pursuant to 28
U.S.C. §2201 that Defendants’ action violated 18 U.S.C. §2702, and seek reasonable
attorneys’ fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2202.
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94. Plaintiffs and Class members have been and are aggrieved by Defendants’ above-described
knowing or intentional divulgence of records or other information pertaining to Plaintiffs and
Class members.
95. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2707, which provides a civil action for any person aggrieved by
knowing or intentional violation of 18 U.S.C. §2702, Plaintiffs and Class members seek such
preliminary and other equitable or declaratory relief as may be appropriate; monetary
damages for each aggrieved Plaintiffs or Class members; punitive damages as the Court
considers just; and reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
EIGHT CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Violation of the Administrative Procedure Act,
5 U.S.C. §701 et seq.–Each and Every Defendant)
96. Plaintiffs and members of the Class repeat and reallege all of the previous allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 95 of this Complaint with the same force and effect, as if fully set forth
herein again at length.
97. Defendants’ surveillance tactics and programs violate the Administrative Procedure Act, 5
U.S.C. §701 et seq., because Defendants’ actions under the surveillance programs exceed
statutory authority and limitations imposed by Congress through FISA, exceed the statutory
authority and limitations set forth in Section 215 of the Patriot Act, and are in violation of
privacy and statutory rights under those laws; are not otherwise in accordance with law; are
contrary to constitutional rights, including the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment; and are
taken without observance of procedures required by law.
98. Plaintiffs and Class members are aggrieved by these violations because, as described
previously in this Complaint, Defendants’ actions under the surveillance programs have
resulted in the interception, acquisition, disclosure, divulgence and/or use of the contents of
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their wire and electronic communications, communications records, and other information in
violation of their constitutional and statutory rights.
99. Plaintiffs seek nonmonetary relief against the Defendants, including a declaration that
Defendants have violated their rights and the rights of the class; an injunction enjoining
Defendants, their agents, successors, and assigns, and all those in active concert and
participation with them from violating the Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ rights; and such
other and further nonmonetary relief as is proper.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
100.
Plaintiffs and Class members demand that judgment be entered against Defendants
Obama, Holder, Alexander, McAdam, Vinson, Verizon, the DOJ, and the NSA, each and
every one of them, jointly and severally, for compensatory and actual damages because of
Defendants Obama's, Holder's, Alexander's, McAdam's, Vinson's, Verizon's, the DOJ's, and
the NSA's illegal actions causing this demonstrable injury to Plaintiffs and Class members,
punitive damages because of Defendant Obama's, Holder's, Alexander's, McAdam's,
Vinson's, Verizon's, the DOJ's, and the NSA's callous, reckless indifference and malicious
acts, and attorneys fees and costs in an amount in excess of $3 billion U.S. dollars and such
other relief the Court may deem just and proper.
101.
Plaintiffs and Class members demand declaratory, equitable and injunctive relief for their
injuries in the following ways: (1) a cease and desist order to prohibit this type of illegal and
criminal activity against Plaintiffs, Class members, and other U.S. citizens from occurring
now and in the future; (2) that all Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ phone records and
information be returned to Verizon and expunged from federal government records; (3) a full
disclosure and a complete accounting of what each Defendant and government agencies as a
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whole have done and allowed the DOJ and NSA to do; (4) that the egregious misconduct of
Judge Roger Vinson be forwarded to judicial and other law enforcement authorities for
appropriate disciplinary and other appropriate legal proceedings for violating the law and his
oath of office to protect and to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
102.
Plaintiffs and Class members also seek relief in their preliminary injunction motion for
their injuries through:
a. An injunction restraining and enjoining Defendants, its agents, servants, employees,
attorneys, and all others in active concert or participation with Defendants, from
implementing surveillance procedures, tactics, and programs that exceed statutory
authority and constitutional provisions.
b. An order for Defendants to comply with any and all laws regarding the Defendants’
authority, power, and limits in conducting such mass warrantless domestic
surveillance, including, but not limited to, Section 215 of the Patriot Act, Section 702
of the FISA Amendment Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the provisions of
the U.S. Constitution.
c. An order that, every twenty (20) days, Defendants must submit declarations and any
pertinent records, reports, and/or other documents to the Court regarding compliance
with any and all minimization procedures implemented to prevent further warrantless
collection of records belonging to U.S. citizens without reasonable suspicion or
probably cause, any and all incidences of non-compliance, identification of any and
all "targets" subject to Defendants' surveillance, and all other relevant reports, risk
assessments, memoranda, and other documents. In the event that the records, reports,
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and/or other documents contain classified information, Defendants shall present such
information in camera to the Court.
d. An order that the Plaintiffs, in accordance with their discovery rights, may take
discovery regarding Defendants' declarations. The Plaintiffs must file any responses to
Defendants submissions under this section within thirty (30) days of the completion of
the Plaintiffs' discovery. The Court will consider the parties' submissions, conduct any
necessary evidentiary hearing, and order further relief as appropriate.
e. An order providing proper procedures allowing Plaintiffs’ counsel to obtain a security
clearance in order to conduct said discovery.
f. An order, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, that the Plaintiffs'
discovery rights are reconfirmed. The Plaintiffs may take discovery, by deposition or
otherwise, regarding any pertinent records, reports, and/or other documents to the
Court regarding compliance with any and all minimization procedures implemented to
prevent further warrantless collection of records belonging to U.S. citizens without
reasonable suspicion or probably cause, any and all incidences of non-compliance,
identification of any and all "targets" subject to Defendants' surveillance, and all other
relevant reports, risk assessments, memoranda, and other documents. The scope of
Plaintiffs' discovery requests may include "all relevant reports, risk assessments,
memoranda, and other documents, whether prepared by the National Security Agency
officials or employees, officials or employees of other government agencies, or third
parties, any pertinent records, reports, and/or other documents to the Court relating to
Defendants' compliance with any and all minimization procedures implemented to
prevent further warrantless collection of records belonging to U.S. citizens without
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reasonable suspicion or probably cause, any and all incidences of non-compliance,
identification of any and all "targets" subject to Defendants' surveillance, and all other
relevant reports, risk assessments, memoranda, and other documents.
g. An order that the parties shall endeavor to agree upon and submit to the Court, within
ten (10) days issuance of the order, a proposed protective order to govern the
disclosure of information and materials related to Defendants' surveillance. In the
event that the parties are unable to agree on a proposed protective order, each party
must submit a proposed protective order to the Court within ten (10) days of the order.
JURY DEMAND
Plaintiffs respectfully demands a jury trial on all issues so triable.
Dated: November 17, 2013
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Larry Klayman
Larry Klayman, Esq.
General Counsel
Freedom Watch, Inc.
D.C. Bar No. 334581
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 345
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (310) 595-0800
Email: leklayman@gmail.com
Attorney for Himself, Pro Se, Plaintiffs and the Class
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