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Case TitleDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv00538
Date Filed2019-02-28
Date Closed2021-03-10
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionDemocracy Forward Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Energy for records concerning discussions of waivers or exceptions relating to the provision of nuclear energy to Saudi Arabia. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, DFF filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Litigation - Vaughn index, Adequacy - Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Public Interest Fee Waiver

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-02-281COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5972427) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Exhibit A, # 6 Exhibit B)(Guzman, Javier) (Entered: 02/28/2019)
2019-02-282LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Guzman, Javier) (Entered: 02/28/2019)
2019-02-28Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zef, ) (Entered: 02/28/2019)
2019-02-283SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 02/28/2019)
2019-03-084RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/7/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/6/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/7/19., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY served on 3/6/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Guzman, Javier) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-04-085NOTICE of Appearance by Jason Todd Cohen on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 04/08/2019)
2019-04-086ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.(Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 04/08/2019)
2019-04-097ORDER. Both a Complaint and an Answer are now before the court in this FOIA case. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before April 23, 2019. The Joint Status Report shall include (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/09/2019. (lcapm1) Modified on 4/9/2019 (lcapm1, ). Modified on 4/9/2019 (lcapm1). (Main Document 7 replaced on 4/9/2019) (zjd). (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/23/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-098Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-11MINUTE ORDER granting 8 Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before May 7, 2019. The Joint Status Report shall include (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/11/2019. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/11/2019)
2019-04-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/7/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 04/12/2019)
2019-05-079Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 05/07/2019)
2019-05-09MINUTE ORDER. Defendant shall file a Status Report outlining Defendant's search and production efforts on or before June 28, 2019. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/09/2019. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/09/2019)
2019-05-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Status Report due by 6/28/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 05/09/2019)
2019-06-24Case directly reassigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge Amit P. Mehta is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-06-2810Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 06/28/2019)
2019-08-0911Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 08/09/2019)
2019-08-13MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report by September 23, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 13, 2019. (lccjn1) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
2019-08-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Additional Joint Status Report due by 9/23/2019. (mac) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
2019-09-2312Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 09/23/2019)
2019-09-26MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before November 7, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 26, 2019. (lccjn3) (Entered: 09/26/2019)
2019-09-26Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 11/7/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 09/29/2019)
2019-11-0813Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 11/08/2019)
2019-11-2414NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Sean Michael Tepe on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Substituting for attorney Jason Cohen (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 11/24/2019)
2019-11-28MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before January 10, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 27, 2019. (lccjn3) (Entered: 11/28/2019)
2019-12-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/10/2020. (mac) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2019-12-0615NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Travis James Annatoyn on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION Substituting for attorney Javier M. Guzman (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 12/06/2019)
2020-01-1016Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 01/10/2020)
2020-01-16MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before February 7, 2020 Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 16, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 01/16/2020)
2020-01-16Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 2/7/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 01/21/2020)
2020-02-0717Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 02/07/2020)
2020-02-18MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before March 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 18, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 02/18/2020)
2020-02-18Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 3/6/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 02/19/2020)
2020-03-0618Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 03/06/2020)
2020-03-11MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 18 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before April 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 11, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 03/11/2020)
2020-03-11Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 4/6/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 03/11/2020)
2020-04-0619Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 04/06/2020)
2020-04-07MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before May 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on April 7, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 04/07/2020)
2020-04-07Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 5/6/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 04/07/2020)
2020-05-0520Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-07-0721Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 07/07/2020)
2020-08-28MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 20 and 21 Joint Status Reports, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before September 8, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 28, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 08/28/2020)
2020-08-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/8/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 08/28/2020)
2020-09-0822Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-10MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 22 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before November 9, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 10, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 09/10/2020)
2020-09-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/9/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 09/10/2020)
2020-11-0923Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 11/09/2020)
2020-11-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties 23 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by January 8, 2021 . Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 18, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-11-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/8/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2021-01-0824Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 01/08/2021)
2021-01-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 24 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file anther Joint Status Report by March 9, 2021 . Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 8, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 01/08/2021)
2021-01-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/9/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-01-1925NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Aman Tewari George on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION Substituting for attorney Travis Annatoyn (George, Aman) (Entered: 01/19/2021)
2021-03-0926STIPULATION of Dismissal by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (George, Aman) (Entered: 03/09/2021)
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