# *Jobe v. NTSB*

In 2016, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated a helicopter crash, joined by representatives from the helicopter’s operator and its manufacturers.

October 28, 2021 • Legal Briefs 

By Carl Cecere, [Ilya Shapiro](https://www.cato.org/people/ilya-shapiro), [William Yeatman](https://www.cato.org/people/william-yeatman), & [Patrick G. Eddington](https://www.cato.org/people/patrick-g-eddington) 

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In 2016, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated a helicopter crash, joined by representatives from the helicopter’s operator and its manufacturers. These nongovernmental parties helped shape the NTSB’s conclusions, which was standard agency practice. Tony Jobe, a lawyer for the crash victim’s family, sought communications regarding these co-investigators’ input through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Although FOIA generally requires government transparency, the law contains multiple exemptions from disclosure, including deliberative communications that are “intra‐​agency.” In denying Mr. Jobe’s request, the NTSB claimed that this “intra‐​agency” exemption extends to its co-investigators. On its face, the agency’s reading of FOIA makes no sense—a private party with an obvious conflict of interest cannot be considered “intra‐​agency.” More broadly, this is the latest attempt by the government to evade accountability under disclosure laws.

Mr. Jobe brought a legal challenge against the NTSB’s purported “consultant corollary” to FOIA’s exemptions, but a federal district court upheld the government’s self-serving interpretation. Mr. Jobe then appealed to the Fifth Circuit, where a three‐​judge panel affirmed the lower court. Now, Mr. Jobe seeks Supreme Court review. Building on our prior work in a [companion case](https://www.cato.org/legal-briefs/rojas-v-faa), the Cato Institute today filed a brief in support of the petitioner. We urge the Court to take this case and close the “consultant corollary” loophole through FOIA.

[![Jobe-cert-stage-cover.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/serial_cover_phone/public/2021-10/Jobe-cert-stage-cover.jpg?itok=L6NdNZVl)](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2021-10/Jobe-cert-stage.pdf) 

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##### *Jobe v. NTSB* 

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##### About the Authors 

![c-Cecere-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-09/c-Cecere-cropped.jpg?itok=lHzictIB) 

##### Carl Cecere 

Owner, Cecere PC

[![Ilya Shapiro](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/Ilya%20Shapiro.jpg?itok=m1_rdWBG)](/people/ilya-shapiro) 

##### [Ilya Shapiro](/people/ilya-shapiro)

Former Vice President and Director, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute

[![William Yeatman](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/Will%20Yeatman.jpg?itok=cX7wRQR4)](/people/william-yeatman) 

##### [William Yeatman](/people/william-yeatman)

Senior Legal Fellow, Pacific Legal Foundation

[![Patrick G. Eddington](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/Patrick%20Eddington.jpg?itok=ddIWrIm5)](/people/patrick-g-eddington) 

##### [Patrick G. Eddington](/people/patrick-g-eddington)

Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

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](mailto:peddington@cato.org) 

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