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Case TitleDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2017cv01921
Date Filed2017-09-20
Date Closed2018-08-09
JudgeJudge Ketanji Brown Jackson
PlaintiffDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionDemocracy Forward Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Defense for records concerning the basis for statements made by the White House that Syria was preparing a chemical attack. Democracy Forward also requested a fee waiver. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Democracy Forward filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2017-09-201COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5124513) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Dubner, Jeffrey) (Entered: 09/20/2017)
2017-09-202Corporate Disclosure Statement by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Dubner, Jeffrey) (Entered: 09/20/2017)
2017-09-21Case Assigned to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. (zsb) (Entered: 09/21/2017)
2017-09-213SUMMONS (1) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachment: # 1 Consent Form)(zsb) (Entered: 09/21/2017)
2017-09-21SUMMONS (2) Not Issued as to U.S ATTORNEY and U.S ATTORNEY GENERAL.....SUMMONS NOT SUBMITTED AT THE TIME COMPLAINT WAS FILED. (zsb) (Entered: 09/21/2017)
2017-10-024REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(Dubner, Jeffrey) (Entered: 10/02/2017)
2017-10-035SUMMONS (2) Issued Electronically as to U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (znmw) (Entered: 10/03/2017)
2017-10-096GENERAL ORDER AND GUIDELINES FOR CIVIL CASES BEFORE JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON. The Court will hold the parties and counsel responsible for following these directives, and parties and counsel should pay particular attention to the Courts instructions for briefing motions and filing exhibits. Failure to adhere to this Order may, when appropriate, result the imposition of sanctions and/or sua sponte denial of non-conforming motions. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 10/9/2017. (lckbj1) (Entered: 10/09/2017)
2017-10-207CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION . (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Dubner, Jeffrey) (Entered: 10/20/2017)
2017-10-208RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/10/2017. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/9/2017.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/11/2017., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE served on 10/10/2017. (See Docket Entry 7 to view document). (znmw) (Entered: 10/23/2017)
2017-11-139ANSWER to 1 Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.(Bensing, Daniel) Modified to add link on 11/14/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 11/13/2017)
2017-11-14MINUTE 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 further proceedings, on or before 12/5/2017. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 11/14/2017. (lckbj1) (Entered: 11/14/2017)
2017-12-0410Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Bensing, Daniel) Modified event title on 12/5/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 12/04/2017)
2017-12-08MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' representations in their 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary, on or before 2/28/2018. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 12/8/2017. (lckbj3) (Entered: 12/08/2017)
2018-02-2811STATUS REPORT Joint Report to the Court by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Bensing, Daniel) Modified event title on 3/1/2018 (znmw). (Entered: 02/28/2018)
2018-03-01MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 3/21/2018, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 03/01/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 03/01/2018)
2018-03-2112Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Dubner, Jeffrey) (Entered: 03/21/2018)
2018-03-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 4/18/2018, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/22/2018. (lckbj3) (Entered: 03/22/2018)
2018-03-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 4/18/2018 (tj) (Entered: 03/23/2018)
2018-04-1813STATUS REPORT JOINT REPORT TO THE COURT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Bensing, Daniel) Modified event title on 4/20/2018 (znmw). (Entered: 04/18/2018)
2018-04-26MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 6/18/2018, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 04/26/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 04/26/2018)
2018-06-1814STATUS REPORT Joint Report to Court by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Bensing, Daniel) Modified event title on 6/20/2018 (znmw). (Entered: 06/18/2018)
2018-06-20MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 14 Joint Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further status report on or before 7/9/2018, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 06/20/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 06/20/2018)
2018-07-0915JOINT REPORT TO COURT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Bensing, Daniel) . (Entered: 07/09/2018)
2018-07-10MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 8/9/2018, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 07/10/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 07/10/2018)
2018-08-0916Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Dubner, Jeffrey) (Entered: 08/09/2018)
2018-08-0917STIPULATION of Dismissal by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Dubner, Jeffrey) (Entered: 08/09/2018)
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