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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2014cv00812
Date Filed2014-05-15
Date Closed2017-03-23
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Defense and the Department of State for all records concerning any briefings conducted by agency officials for named members of Congress pertaining to the attack of the U.S. compound in Benghazi. Both agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after they failed to respond within the statutory time limit, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2014-05-151COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-3717563) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons Defense Dept., # 5 Summons State Dept.)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/15/2014)
2014-05-152LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/15/2014)
2014-05-15Case Assigned to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. (kb) (Entered: 05/16/2014)
2014-05-163SUMMONS Issued (4) Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Consent Form, # 2 Notice of Consent)(kb) (Entered: 05/16/2014)
2014-05-194GENERAL ORDER AND GUIDELINES FOR CIVIL CASES BEFORE JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 5/19/2014. (lckbj1) (Entered: 05/19/2014)
2014-06-055RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/27/2014. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/26/2014.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/27/2014., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE served on 5/23/2014 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of C. Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 06/05/2014)
2014-06-266NOTICE of Appearance by Robert J. Prince on behalf of All Defendants (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 06/26/2014)
2014-06-267ANSWER to Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Department of Defense Request Letter, # 2 Department of Defense Acknowledgement Letter, # 3 Department of State Request Letter, # 4 Department of State Acknowledgement Letter)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 06/26/2014)
2014-06-27MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure, by 7/17/2014. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 06/27/2014. (lckbj1) (Entered: 06/27/2014)
2014-07-168STATUS REPORT and Joint Proposed Schedule for Disclosure by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 07/16/2014)
2014-07-24MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the representation in 8 the parties' Joint Status report, it is hereby ORDERED that by 9/5/2014, the parties shall file a joint report advising the Court on the status of this matter, which shall include a proposed schedule for disclosure or, if litigation is going to be necessary, a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 07/24/2014. (lckbj1) (Entered: 07/24/2014)
2014-09-049STATUS REPORT (JOINT) by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 09/04/2014)
2014-09-09MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the representations made in the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall produce to Plaintiff the non-exempt, responsive documents subject to FOIA in rolling productions on October 24, 2014; December 19, 2014; February 13, 2015; April 10, 2015; June 5, 2015; and July 31, 2015. It is FURTHER ORDERED that by no later than August 14, 2015, the parties shall file a second joint status report setting forth a proposed schedule for further proceedings should litigation be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 09/09/2014. (lckbj1) (Entered: 09/09/2014)
2014-12-24Case randomly reassigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson no longer assigned to the case. (gt, ) (Entered: 12/24/2014)
2015-06-2310Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Rolling Production of Responsive Documents by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 06/23/2015)
2015-06-24MINUTE ORDER granting 10 Defendants' Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time. Defendants shall produce to Plaintiff the remaining non-exempt, responsive documents subject to FOIA in rolling productions on or before July 31, 2015, and on or before September 25, 2015. It is further ordered that, on or before October 9, 2015, the parties shall file a Joint Status Report setting forth a proposed schedule for further proceedings should the parties be unable to resolve this matter without further litigation. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 06/24/2015. (lcapm2) (Entered: 06/24/2015)
2015-06-24Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Remaining responsive documents due by 7/31/2015 & 9/25/2015. Joint Status Report due by 10/9/2015. (cdw) (Entered: 06/25/2015)
2015-09-0211NOTICE of Filing Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Motion for Designation of Coordinating Judge)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 09/02/2015)
2015-09-0412NOTICE of Order Entered in Misc. No. 15-1188 by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Copy of Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-2413Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Rolling Productions of Responsive Documents by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 09/24/2015)
2015-09-28MINUTE ORDER granting 13 Defendants' Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time. Defendants shall produce to Plaintiff the remaining non-exempt, responsive documents subject to FOIA in rolling productions on or before September 25, 2015; November 20, 2015; and January 15, 2016. It is further ordered that, on or before: (1) October 26, 2015, Defendant U.S. Department of State shall file a Status Report disclosing the number of documents potentially responsive to the FOIA request from among the recently provided documents; (2) November 20, 2015, Defendant U.S. Department of Defense shall file a Status Report disclosing (a) the number of pages that were sent out to components of it or other agencies for referral, (b) the number of pages that have come back from referral, and (c) the number of documents remaining out for referral; and (3) January 27, 2016, the parties shall file a Joint Status Report setting forth a proposed schedule for further proceedings should the parties be unable to resolve this matter without further litigation. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 09/28/2015. (lcapm2) (Entered: 09/28/2015)
2015-09-28Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: U.S. Department of State's Status Report due by 10/26/2015. U.S. Department of Defense's Status Report due by 11/20/2015. Parties' Joint Status Report due by 1/27/2016. (cdw) (Entered: 09/29/2015)
2015-10-2614STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 10/26/2015)
2015-11-2015STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 11/20/2015)
2016-01-1216Unopposed MOTION to Modify Production Schedule by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 01/12/2016)
2016-01-13MINUTE ORDER granting 16 Defendants' Unopposed Motion to Modify Production Schedule and setting the following schedule for further proceedings: (1) Defense shall produce to Plaintiff the remaining non-exempt, responsive documents subject to FOIA on or before January 29, 2016; (2) State shall complete its additional searches and provide Judicial Watch with an estimated volume of any newly identified potentially responsive documents on or before February 1, 2016; and (3) State and Judicial Watch shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report, on or before February 5, 2016, which proposes a schedule for State to produce the non-exempt portions of any newly identified responsive documents subject to FOIA or, in the event the parties cannot reach agreement regarding a schedule, stating each party's respective position. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 01/13/2016. (lcapm2) (Entered: 01/13/2016)
2016-01-13Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 2/5/2016 (cdw) (Entered: 01/13/2016)
2016-01-2917Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Production and Additional Searches by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 01/29/2016)
2016-02-01MINUTE ORDER granting 17 Defendants' Unopposed Motion for Brief Extension and setting the following schedule for further proceedings: (1) Defense shall produce to Plaintiff the remaining non-exempt, responsive documents subject to FOIA on or before February 1, 2016; (2) State shall complete its additional searches and provide Judicial Watch with an estimated volume of any newly identified potentially responsive documents on or before February 5, 2016; and (3) State and Judicial Watch shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report, on or before February 11, 2016, which proposes a schedule for State to produce the non-exempt portions of any newly identified responsive documents subject to FOIA or, in the event the parties cannot reach agreement regarding a schedule, stating each party's respective position. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 02/01/2016. (lcapm2) (Entered: 02/01/2016)
2016-02-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Production of remaining non-exempt responsive documents subject to FOIA due by 2/1/2016; State shall complete its additional searches and provide Judicial Watch with an estimated volume of any newly identified potentially responsive documents by 2/5/2016; Joint Status Report due by 2/11/2016. (tg) (Entered: 02/01/2016)
2016-02-1018Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 02/10/2016)
2016-02-10MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 18 February 10, 2016, Joint Status Report and Proposed Production Schedule, the courts sets the following schedule for further proceedings: (1) State shall produce to Plaintiff the non-exempt portions of the responsive documents subject to FOIA on March 7, 2016 and April 7, 2016, and (2) the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report, on or before April 21, 2016, which will identify any outstanding issues and set forth a proposal for how the case should proceed. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 02/10/2016. (lcapm2) (Entered: 02/10/2016)
2016-02-11Set/Reset Deadlines: State to produce to Plaintiff the non-exempt portions of the responsive documents subject to FOIA on 3/7/2016 and 4/7/2016. Joint Status Report due by 4/21/2016. (zmm) (Entered: 02/11/2016)
2016-04-2019Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 04/20/2016)
2016-04-2120ORDER setting the following schedule for further proceedings: Defendants U.S. Department of Defense ("Defense") and U.S. Department of State's ("State") Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before October 21, 2016; Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d) or its Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Defense and State's Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before November 21, 2016; State's Opposition to Plaintiffs Motion for Discovery or Defense and State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Reply to Plaintiff's Opposition to Defense and State's Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before January 4, 2017; Plaintiff's Reply to State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery or Plaintiff's Reply to Defense and State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before January 18, 2017. Please see the attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/21/2016. (lcapm2) (Entered: 04/21/2016)
2016-09-1321Unopposed MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 09/13/2016)
2016-09-1322ORDER granting 21 Defendants' Unopposed Motion to Modify Briefing Schedule. The schedule for further proceedings shall be as follows: Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before December 16, 2016; Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d) or its Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before January 16, 2017; Defendant Department of State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery or Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Reply to Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before February 15, 2017; Plaintiff's Reply to Defendant Department of State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery or Plaintiff's Reply to Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before March 1, 2017. It is further ordered that the parties shall submit a Joint Status Report on or before November 10, 2016. Please see the attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 09/13/2016. (lcapm2) (Entered: 09/13/2016)
2016-09-13Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 11/10/2016. Defendants' Summary Judgment motion due by 12/16/2016. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 1/16/2017. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 2/15/2017. Plaintiff's Cross Motion due by 1/16/2017. Response to Cross Motion due by 2/15/2017. Reply to Cross Motion due by 3/1/2017. Motion for discovery due by 1/16/2017. Responses due by 2/15/2017. Reply due by 3/1/2017. (cdw) (Entered: 09/14/2016)
2016-10-2723Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Prince, Robert) (Entered: 10/27/2016)
2016-12-1424Consent MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 12/14/2016)
2016-12-14MINUTE ORDER granting 24 Consent Motion to Modify Briefing Schedule. The 22 September 13, 2016, Order setting the schedule in this case is hereby modified as follows: Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, and any additional release of documents, shall be due on or before February 3, 2017; Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d) or its Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before March 6, 2017; Defendant Department of State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery or Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Reply to Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before April 6, 2017; Plaintiff's Reply to Defendant Department of State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery or its Reply to Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Reply to Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before April 20, 2017. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/14/2016. (lcapm2) (Entered: 12/14/2016)
2016-12-14Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Defendants' Summary Judgment motion due by 2/3/2017. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/6/2017. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 4/6/2017. Plaintiff's Cross Motion due by 3/6/2017. Response to Cross Motion due by 4/6/2017. Reply to Cross Motion due by 4/20/2017. Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery due by 3/6/2017. Defendant Department of State's response due by 4/6/2017. Plaintiff's reply due by 4/20/2017. (cdw) (Entered: 12/15/2016)
2017-01-2725Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 01/27/2017)
2017-01-30MINUTE ORDER granting 25 Defendants' Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment. The schedule for further proceedings shall be as follows: Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before February 10, 2017; Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d) or its Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before March 13, 2017; Defendant Department of State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery or Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Reply to Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before April 13, 2017; Plaintiff's Reply to Defendant Department of State's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery or Plaintiff's Reply to Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before April 27, 2017. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 01/30/2017. (lcapm2) (Entered: 01/30/2017)
2017-01-30Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Defendants' Summary Judgment motions due by 2/10/2017. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/17/2017. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 4/13/2017. Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery due by 3/13/2017. Response due by 4/13/2017. Reply due by 4/27/2017. Plaintiff's Cross Motion due by 3/13/2017. Response to Cross Motion due by 4/13/2017. Reply to Cross Motion due by 4/27/2017. (cdw) (Entered: 01/31/2017)
2017-02-1026MOTION for Summary Judgment by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 DoD Declaration and Vaughn Index, # 4 State Declaration and Vaughn Index)(Prince, Robert) (Entered: 02/10/2017)
2017-03-1027NOTICE OF AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 03/10/2017)
2017-03-10MINUTE ORDER: In light of 27 the parties' Notice of Agreement, unless the parties have filed a stipulation of dismissal on or before April 10, 2017, the parties shall file a Joint Status Report on or before April 13, 2017, updating the court on the status of settlement. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 03/10/2017. (lcapm2) (Entered: 03/10/2017)
2017-03-10Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 4/13/2017. (cdw) (Entered: 03/13/2017)
2017-03-2128STIPULATION of Dismissal with Prejudice by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 03/21/2017)
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