March 18, 2015 | Case

Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (No. 1:15-cv-00223)

On February 13, 2015, Judicial Watch filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking “any and all” records concerning contracts and consultancy agreements between the HHS and Jonathan Gruber, the Obamacare architect who controversially referenced “the stupidity of the American voter” in describing efforts to pass the Obamacare legislation.

The Judicial Watch lawsuit specifically seeks all information relating to a 2009 sole-source solicitation contract Gruber was awarded for which he was paid nearly $400,000. Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit after HHS refused to respond to a November 19, 2014, FOIA request, seeking the following information:

Any and all records concerning, regarding, or related to contracts, and/or consultancy agreements between HHS and Dr. Jonathan Gruber, including but not limited to [a] contract awarded June 19, 2009 for “Technical Assistance in Evaluating Options for National Healthcare Reform” (Contract Award Number HHSP23320091301EC).