IRS Sued for Lengthy Delay in Responding to FOIA Request

The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center has sued the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") for its failure to produce records on a request made to it approximately 18 months ago.  The request sought records on the plaintiff's attempt to get itself 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.  While the IRS indicated over a year ago that it had located responsive records, it still has not produced anything, nor has it even responded to the plaintiff's communications to find out the status of the request.  This is a prime example of how a little customer service could have prevented another FOIA matter going to the Courts.