Case Detail

FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Christopher Cooper has ruled that the DEA conducted an adequate search for records concerning the existence of a drug-trafficking investigation involving Ranfiel Castaneda Sanchez that was preventing Sanchez and Yolanda Vizcarra Calderon from obtaining visas to enter the United States. After being turned down by the State Department, Sanchez submitted a FOIA request to the DEA for records about himself. After a database search, the agency found no records. Sanchez sued, challenging the agency's search. The agency told Cooper that it had performed multiple queries of its Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Information System and found no records. Sanchez argued the search was insufficient because a government official had told him that a case related to drug-trafficking allegations against him existed. Cooper observed that "nor is it even certain that any existing 'case' against Castaneda Sanchez is one involving the DEA. As the Department aptly points out, many agencies â€" including state agencies â€" have authority to investigate drug trafficking. It is certainly possible that any investigation into alleged drug trafficking involves a different law enforcement agency. At this juncture, Castaneda Sanchez does little more than speculate that the DEA had an open investigation into his alleged involvement in drug trafficking."
Issues: Adequacy - Search

Date Filed	Doc #	Docket Text
2017-07-22	1	COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5043002) filed by Ranfiel Castaneda Sanchez. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 3 Summons Department of Justice, # 4 Summons Department of Homeland Security, # 5 Summons Department of State, # 6 Summons Department of Treasury, # 7 Summons Department of Defense, # 8 Notice to Counsel/Party of Related Case)(Wright, Jason) (Entered: 07/22/2017)
2017-07-22	2	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- W. Asa Hutchinson, III, :Firm- The Hutchinson Law Group, PLC, :Address- 912 W. Central Ave., Bentonville, Arkansas, 72712. Phone No. - (479) 878-1600. Fax No. - (479) 876-8283 Filing fee $ 100, receipt number 0090-5043006. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by Ranfiel Castaneda Sanchez (Wright, Jason) (Entered: 07/22/2017)
2017-07-22	3	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. Case related to Case No. 17-1458. (zsb) (Entered: 07/24/2017)
2017-07-24		Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (zsb) (Entered: 07/24/2017)
2017-07-24	4	REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE re 1 Complaint,, filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. Related document: 1 Complaint,, filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. (Attachments: # 1 Summons US Attorney for DC, # 2 Summons DOJ, # 3 Summons DHS, # 4 Summons State, # 5 Summons Treasury, # 6 Summons DOD)(Wright, Jason) (Entered: 07/24/2017)
2017-07-24	5	REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. (Attachments: # 1 Summons Attorney General)(Wright, Jason) (Entered: 07/24/2017)
2017-07-24	6	SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, and U.S. Attorney (Attachment: # 1 Consent Form)(zsb) (Entered: 07/24/2017)
2017-07-24		SUMMONS Not Issued as to U.S. Attorney General.....SUMMONS NOT FILED AT THE TIME COMPLAINT WAS FILED. (zsb) (Entered: 07/24/2017)
2017-08-08		MINUTE ORDER granting 2 Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/8/2017. (lccrc2) (Entered: 08/08/2017)
2017-08-15	7	ENTERED IN ERROR.....REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE FOR DEPARTMENT OF STATE re 1 Complaint,, filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. Related document: 1 Complaint,, filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ.(Wright, Jason) Modified on 8/16/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 08/15/2017)
2017-08-16		NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: Docket Entry 7 Request for Summons to Issue was entered in error; Incorrect summons submitted; Please resubmit proper FOIA summons. (znmw) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-08-16	8	REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE FOR DEPARTMENT OF STATE (CORRECTED) re 1 Complaint,, filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. Related document: 1 Complaint,, filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ.(Wright, Jason) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-08-16	9	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/11/2017. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/10/2017. (Wright, Jason) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-08-16	10	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 8/7/2017 (Wright, Jason) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-08-16	11	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE served on 8/7/2017 (Wright, Jason) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-08-16	12	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 8/7/2017 (Wright, Jason) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-08-16	13	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY served on 8/7/2017 (Wright, Jason) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-08-17	14	SUMMONS (1) Reissued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (znmw) (Entered: 08/17/2017)
2017-08-30	15	MOTION for Leave to File Amended Complaint filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit First Amended Complaint, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Wright, Jason) Modified event title on 8/31/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 08/30/2017)
2017-08-31		NOTICE OF ERROR re 15 Amended Complaint; emailed to jwright@jasonwrightesq.com, cc'd 2 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect event used, 2. The Clerk's Office will modify this entry to a Motion for Leave to File. (znmw, ) (Entered: 08/31/2017)
2017-09-01		MINUTE ORDER granting 15 Plaintiff's Consent Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/1/2017. (lccrc2) (Entered: 09/01/2017)
2017-09-01	16	AMENDED COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ.(Wright, Jason) (Entered: 09/01/2017)
2017-09-13	17	ANSWER to 16 Amended Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Related document: 16 Amended Complaint filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ.(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-13		MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. Since the requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by September 27, 2017. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/13/2017. (lccrc2) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-13		Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 9/27/2017 (lsj) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-13		MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. Since the requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by September 27, 2017. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/13/2017. (lccrc2) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-14		Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 9/27/2017 (lsj) (Entered: 09/14/2017)
2017-09-27	18	Joint STATUS REPORT AND PROPOSED SCHEDULE by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. (Wright, Jason) (Entered: 09/27/2017)
2017-10-02		MINUTE ORDER: In light of 18 the parties' Joint Status Report, is hereby ORDERED that the summary-judgment briefing schedule shall be as follows: Defendant's motion for summary judgment shall be due by November 15, 2017; Plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment and opposition to Defendant's motion shall be due by December 15, 2017; Defendant's reply in support of its motion and opposition to Plaintiff's motion shall be due by January 9, 2018; and Plaintiff's reply in support of its motion shall be due by January 30, 2018. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/2/2017. (lccrc2) (Entered: 10/02/2017)
2017-10-02		Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motions due by 11/15/2017. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 12/15/2017. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 1/9/2018. Plaintiff's Replies due by 1/30/2018. (lsj) (Entered: 10/02/2017)
2017-11-15	19	MOTION for Summary Judgment , Local Rule 7(h) Statement and Supporting Memorandum by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order, # 2 Declaration of Katherine L. Myrick)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 11/15/2017)
2017-12-15	20	Memorandum in opposition to re 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment , Local Rule 7(h) Statement and Supporting Memorandum filed by RANFIEL CASTANEDA SANCHEZ. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Declaration Jan Pederson, Esq. with attachments)(Wright, Jason) (Entered: 12/15/2017)
2018-01-09	21	REPLY to opposition to motion re 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment , Local Rule 7(h) Statement and Supporting Memorandum filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 01/09/2018)
2018-01-09	22	NOTICE of Filing of Supplemental Myrick Declaration by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE re 21 Reply to opposition to Motion (Attachments: # 1 First Supplemental Myrick Declaration)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 01/09/2018)
2018-03-06	23	ORDER granting 19 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. For the reasons stated in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment be granted. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/6/2018. (lccrc2) (Entered: 03/06/2018)
2018-03-06	24	MEMORANDUM OPINION re 23 Order granting Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/6/2018. (lccrc2) (Entered: 03/06/2018)
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