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Case TitlePUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY v. UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2014cv01198
Date Filed2014-07-16
Date Closed2015-09-30
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffPUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Case DescriptionPEER submitted a FOIA request to the U.S. Forest Service for records concerning the agency's Law Enforcement & Investigations' purchase and use of new computer devices, including Toughbook laptops and tablets. The agency told PEER that it found no documents responsive to several subparts of PEER's request and withheld the responses in an 11-page survey under Exemption 5 (privileges). PEER appealed the denial under Exemption 5 and questioned the agency's inability to find records responsive to most subparts of its request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, PEER filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Exemption 5 - Privileges

DefendantUNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2014-07-161COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-3780164) filed by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 07/16/2014)
2014-07-16Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (sth, ) (Entered: 07/16/2014)
2014-07-162SUMMONS (1) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(sth, ) (Entered: 07/16/2014)
2014-07-163ORDER Establishing Procedures for Cases Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 16, 2014. (NS) (Entered: 07/16/2014)
2014-08-134REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY filed by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.(Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 08/13/2014)
2014-08-135REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY filed by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.(Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 08/13/2014)
2014-08-146SUMMONS (2) Issued Electronically as to U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (znmw, ) (Entered: 08/14/2014)
2014-08-157RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/15/2014. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/14/2014. (Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 08/15/2014)
2014-08-258RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 08/20/2014. (Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
2014-08-259RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE served on 8/18/2014 (Attachments: # 1 Supplement USPS date of delivery)(Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
2014-09-1210Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 09/12/2014)
2014-09-12MINUTE ORDER (paperless). Upon consideration of Defendant's 10 Consent Motion for Extension of Time, and for good cause shown, the motion is GRANTED. The Defendant's Answer and/or other response to the Complaint shall be filed no later than OCTOBER 6, 2014 . No further extensions with respect to this deadline shall be granted. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 09/12/2014. (lcckk2) (Entered: 09/12/2014)
2014-09-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer and/or other response to the Complaint due by 10/6/2014. (dot ) (Entered: 09/15/2014)
2014-10-0611ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE.(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 10/06/2014)
2014-10-0712SCHEDULING ORDER: Initial Scheduling Conference set for 10/30/2014 09:30 AM in Courtroom 28A before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 10/7/14. (dot ) (Entered: 10/07/2014)
2014-10-2013ORDER requiring parties to file Joint Status Report proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter and VACATING the Initial Scheduling Conference previously set for October 30, 2014. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 10/20/2014. (lcckk2) (Entered: 10/20/2014)
2014-11-0614STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE. (Ross, Carl) (Entered: 11/06/2014)
2014-11-1015ORDER setting schedule and procedures with respect to briefing of summary judgment motions. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 11/10/2014. (lcckk2) (Entered: 11/10/2014)
2014-11-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff's Cross Motions due by 2/25/2015. Response to Cross Motions due by 3/27/2015. Reply to Cross Motions due by 4/15/2015. Defendant's Summary Judgment motions due by 1/23/2015. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 2/25/2015. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/27/2015. Defendant's Vaughn Index due by 1/23/2015. (dot ) (Entered: 11/13/2014)
2014-12-24Case randomly reassigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly no longer assigned to the case. (gt, ) (Entered: 12/24/2014)
2015-01-2116MOTION for Extension of Time to File by UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 01/21/2015)
2015-01-2117RESPONSE re 16 MOTION for Extension of Time to File filed by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. (Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 01/21/2015)
2015-02-04MINUTE ORDER granting, nunc pro tunc to January 22, 2015, 16 Motion for Extension of Time to File. Defendant's Vaughn Index and Motion for Summary Judgment are to be filed on or before February 27, 2015. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 02/04/2015. (lcapm1) (Entered: 02/04/2015)
2015-02-04Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Defendant's Summary Judgment motion and Vaughn Index due by 2/27/2015. (cdw) (Entered: 02/05/2015)
2015-02-2718Vaughn Index . (Attachments: # 1 Vaughn Index)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 02/27/2015)
2015-02-2719MOTION for Summary Judgment by UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 02/27/2015)
2015-04-0120ORDER advising Plaintiff to show cause why the court should not treat Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment as conceded and enter summary judgment in Defendant's favor. Plaintiff may answer this Order to Show Cause by filing an opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment on or before April 13, 2015. No further extension of time shall be granted. Please see the attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/01/2015. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/01/2015)
2015-04-01Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Response to Show Cause Order or Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 4/13/2015. (cdw) (Entered: 04/02/2015)
2015-04-1321STATUS REPORT by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. (Dinerstein, Paula) Modified on 4/14/2015 (jf, ). (Entered: 04/13/2015)
2015-04-1422First MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY (Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 04/14/2015)
2015-04-14MINUTE ORDER granting 22 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. It is further ordered that Plaintiff's Response to 19 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before April 20, 2015 if parties have not settled by that date. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/14/2015. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/14/2015)
2015-04-14Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 4/20/2015. (cdw) (Entered: 04/15/2015)
2015-04-2023Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY (Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 04/20/2015)
2015-04-2024STATUS REPORT and second motion for extension of time by PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. (Dinerstein, Paula) (Entered: 04/20/2015)
2015-04-21MINUTE ORDER granting 23 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. It is further ordered that Plaintiff's Response to 19 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before May 1, 2015 if parties have not settled by that date. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/21/2015. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/21/2015)
2015-04-21Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 5/1/2015. (cdw) (Entered: 04/21/2015)
2015-04-3025STIPULATION of Settlement by UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE. (Ross, Carl) (Entered: 04/30/2015)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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