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Case TitleWESTERN VALUES PROJECT et al v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv02336
Date Filed2018-10-10
Date Closed2022-07-01
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffWESTERN VALUES PROJECT
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionWestern Values Project submitted FOIA requests to the Department of the Interior for records concerning Secretary Ryan Zinke's compliance with his ethical obligations, including travel expenses. American Oversight also submitted a FOIA request to the Department of the Interior for records concerning communications between the agency and governmental entities in Puerto Rico. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from agency as to any of the requests, Western Values Project and American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Documents
Docket
Complaint
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Complaint attachment 17
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-10-101COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5729755) filed by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USAO, # 3 Summons Attorney General, # 4 Summons DOI, # 5 Exhibit 1, # 6 Exhibit 2, # 7 Exhibit 3, # 8 Exhibit 4, # 9 Exhibit 5, # 10 Exhibit 6, # 11 Exhibit 7, # 12 Exhibit 8, # 13 Exhibit 9, # 14 Exhibit 10, # 15 Exhibit 11, # 16 Exhibit 12, # 17 Exhibit 13)(Wood, Hart) (Entered: 10/10/2018)
2018-10-102LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, WESTERN VALUES PROJECT (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 10/10/2018)
2018-10-11Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (zmd) (Entered: 10/11/2018)
2018-10-163SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent) (zmd) (Entered: 10/16/2018)
2018-11-014RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/16/2018. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/15/2018. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Wood, Hart) (Entered: 11/01/2018)
2018-11-015RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/22/18., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 10/22/2018; (See docket entry no. 4 to view.) (ztd) (Entered: 11/06/2018)
2018-11-156NOTICE of Appearance by Brian J. Field on behalf of All Defendants (Field, Brian) (Entered: 11/15/2018)
2018-11-157ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Field, Brian) (Entered: 11/15/2018)
2018-11-15MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ordered that the parties promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by December 5, 2018. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/15/2018. (lccrc2) (Entered: 11/15/2018)
2018-11-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 12/5/2018 (lsj) (Entered: 11/16/2018)
2018-12-068Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 12/06/2018)
2018-12-07MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 8 joint status report, the parties shall file an updated joint status report on or before January 7, 2019. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/7/2018. (lccrc2) (Entered: 12/07/2018)
2018-12-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/7/2019 (lsj) (Entered: 12/10/2018)
2019-01-049MOTION to Stay in Light of lapse in Appropriations by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Field, Brian) (Entered: 01/04/2019)
2019-01-04MINUTE ORDER granting 9 Defendant's Motion to Stay. All deadlines in the case shall be stayed pending renewed government funding. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/4/2019. (lccrc2) (Entered: 01/04/2019)
2019-01-2810NOTICE of Restored Government Funding by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Field, Brian) (Entered: 01/28/2019)
2019-02-01MINUTE ORDER: In light of the restoration of appropriations, the stay in this case is lifted. The parties shall provide a joint status report on or before February 8, 2019, which shall include a proposed schedule for future proceedings. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/1/2019. (lccrc2) (Entered: 02/01/2019)
2019-02-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/8/2019 (lsj) (Entered: 02/05/2019)
2019-02-0811Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 02/08/2019)
2019-02-08MINUTE ORDER: In light of 11 the parties' joint status report, the parties shall provide an updated joint status report on or before March 20, 2019. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/8/2019. (lccrc2) (Entered: 02/08/2019)
2019-02-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/20/2019 (lsj) (Entered: 02/11/2019)
2019-03-2112Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 03/21/2019)
2019-03-22MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' most recent joint status report, the parties shall file an updated joint status report on or before April 22, 2019. Given the apparently protracted production schedule, the parties shall file an updated status report every 60 days, beginning with the April 22 status report. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/22/2019. (lccrc2) (Entered: 03/22/2019)
2019-03-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/22/2019 (lsj) (Entered: 03/22/2019)
2019-04-2213Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 04/22/2019)
2019-04-25MINUTE ORDER: The parties are to participate in a Telephone Conference set for 4/26/2019 at 12:00 PM before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/25/19. (lsj) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-06-2114Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 06/21/2019)
2019-06-24Case directly reassigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge Christopher R. Cooper is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-08-2115Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 08/21/2019)
2019-08-23MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the timeline set out in the Court's minute order of March 22, 2019 remains in effect. The Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by October 21, 2019 and every 60 days thereafter. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 23, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 08/23/2019)
2019-08-23Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 10/21/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 08/25/2019)
2019-10-2116Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by December 23, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 22, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-10-22Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 12/23/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-12-1917Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 12/19/2019)
2019-12-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 17 Joint Status Report, is is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by February 21, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on December 19, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 12/19/2019)
2019-12-19Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 2/21/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 12/24/2019)
2020-02-2118Joint STATUS REPORT by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 02/21/2020)
2020-02-23MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 18 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by April 21, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 23, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 02/23/2020)
2020-02-23Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 4/21/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 02/24/2020)
2020-04-2119Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 04/21/2020)
2020-04-23MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by June 22, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on April 23, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 04/23/2020)
2020-04-23Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 6/22/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 04/26/2020)
2020-06-2220Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 06/22/2020)
2020-06-23MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by August 21, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 23, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 06/23/2020)
2020-06-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/21/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 06/24/2020)
2020-08-1321Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Field, Brian) (Entered: 08/13/2020)
2020-08-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of Defendant's 21 Consent Motion for Extension of Time, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. The Parties shall file their Joint Status Report by August 26, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 17, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 08/17/2020)
2020-08-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/26/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 08/17/2020)
2020-08-2622Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-08-27MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 22 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by October 26, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 27, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-08-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/26/2020 (zcal) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-09-2323NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Brenda A Gonzalez on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Substituting for attorney Brian Field (Gonzalez, Brenda) (Entered: 09/23/2020)
2020-10-2624Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 10/26/2020)
2020-10-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 24 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by December 22, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 28, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 10/28/2020)
2020-10-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/22/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 10/29/2020)
2020-12-2225Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 12/22/2020)
2021-01-04MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 25 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by February 26, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 4, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 01/04/2021)
2021-01-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/26/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 01/04/2021)
2021-02-2626Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 02/26/2021)
2021-03-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 26 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by March 29, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 8, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 03/08/2021)
2021-03-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/29/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 03/08/2021)
2021-03-2927Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 03/29/2021)
2021-04-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 27 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by April 29, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on April 7, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 04/07/2021)
2021-04-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/29/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 04/07/2021)
2021-04-2928Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-05-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 28 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by May 31, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 3, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 05/03/2021)
2021-05-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/31/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 05/04/2021)
2021-05-2829Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 05/28/2021)
2021-06-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 29 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by June 30, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 1, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 06/01/2021)
2021-06-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/30/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-3030Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 06/30/2021)
2021-07-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 30 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by August 27, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on July 1, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 07/01/2021)
2021-07-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/27/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
2021-08-2731STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 08/27/2021)
2021-10-2732Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 10/27/2021)
2021-11-02MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 32 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an updated Joint Status Report on or before January 7, 2022. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 2, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 11/02/2021)
2021-11-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/7/2022. (zkh) (Entered: 11/03/2021)
2021-12-3033Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Gonzalez-Horowitz, Brenda) (Entered: 12/30/2021)
2022-01-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 33 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an updated Joint Status Report on or before February 28, 2022. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 3, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 01/03/2022)
2022-01-03NOTICE OF ERROR re 33 Status Report; emailed to brenda.gonzalez.horowitz@usdoj.gov, cc'd 3 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect document/case, 2. DO NOT REFILE - Counsel is reminded to correct case number for future filings(s) (zjf, ) (Entered: 01/03/2022)
2022-01-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/28/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 01/04/2022)
2022-02-2334Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to file Join Status Report by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Truong, John) (Entered: 02/23/2022)
2022-02-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 34 Consent Motion for an Extension of Time to File a Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. The Joint Status Report is due on or before May 2, 2022. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 28, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-02-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/2/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 03/01/2022)
2022-04-2835NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Douglas C. Dreier on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Substituting for attorney John Truong (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-04-2836Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-04-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 36 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an updated status report on or before June 3, 2022. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on April 28, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-04-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/3/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-05-0237NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Attorney Douglas C. Dreier terminated. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-06-0338Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 06/03/2022)
2022-06-06MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 38 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an updated Joint Status Report on or before August 10, 2022. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 6, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 06/06/2022)
2022-06-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/10/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 06/07/2022)
2022-06-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/10/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 06/10/2022)
2022-06-2739STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 06/27/2022)
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