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Case TitleCLEMENT v. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2017cv02451
Date Filed2017-11-14
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffJOEL CLEMENT
Case DescriptionJoel Clement, a former DOI employee who was reassigned, submitted a FOIA request to the Department of the Interior for records concerning its reassignment decisions. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. Clement submitted a second FOIA request to the agency for records regarding the political affiliation of a number of named individuals. The agency acknowledged receipt of the second request as well. Clement had contacts with the agency concerning its progress, but after hearing nothing further, Clement filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2017-11-141COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5203477) filed by Joel Clement. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 11/14/2017)
2017-11-14Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (zsth) (Entered: 11/14/2017)
2017-11-142SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsth) (Entered: 11/14/2017)
2017-11-173REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE Corrected version of summons re 1 Complaint, 2 Summons Issued Electronically as to AUSA filed by JOEL CLEMENT. Related document: 1 Complaint filed by JOEL CLEMENT, 2 Summons Issued Electronically as to AUSA.(Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 11/17/2017)
2017-11-274NOTICE of Appearance by Damon William Taaffe on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 11/27/2017)
2017-11-285REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE Corrected versions of summons re 1 Complaint filed by JOEL CLEMENT. Related document: 1 Complaint filed by JOEL CLEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons)(Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 11/28/2017)
2017-11-296SUMMONS (3) Reissued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (znmw) (Entered: 11/29/2017)
2017-12-117NOTICE of Appearance by Lauren E. Naylor on behalf of JOEL CLEMENT (Naylor, Lauren) (Entered: 12/11/2017)
2017-12-118RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General on 11/30/2017. (Naylor, Lauren) Modified party served and date of service on 12/12/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 12/11/2017)
2017-12-119RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/30/2017. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/31/2017. (Naylor, Lauren) Modified dates on 12/12/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 12/11/2017)
2017-12-1110RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. JOEL CLEMENT served on 12/1/2017 (Naylor, Lauren) Modified date of service on 12/12/2017 (znmw). (Entered: 12/11/2017)
2017-12-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 12/31/2017. (znmw) (Entered: 12/12/2017)
2017-12-1911Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 12/19/2017)
2017-12-22MINUTE ORDER granting 11 Defendant's Motion for Extension of Time to Answer Complaint. Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint by January 16, 2018. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/22/2017. (lccrc1) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2017-12-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 1/16/2018 (lsj) (Entered: 12/22/2017)
2018-01-1612ANSWER to 1 Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.(Taaffe, Damon) Modified to add link on 1/17/2018 (znmw). (Entered: 01/16/2018)
2018-01-29MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by February 13, 2018. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/29/2018. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/29/2018)
2018-01-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 2/13/2018 (lsj) (Entered: 01/29/2018)
2018-02-1313Joint STATUS REPORT by JOEL CLEMENT. (Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 02/13/2018)
2018-04-0314NOTICE of Appearance by Sherri L. Morgan on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (Morgan, Sherri) (Entered: 04/03/2018)
2018-05-1415Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Morgan, Sherri) (Entered: 05/14/2018)
2018-05-16MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 15 joint status report, it is ORDERED that a status conference is set for May 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 27A. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/16/2018. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/16/2018)
2018-05-16Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 5/22/2018 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 27 before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (lsj) (Entered: 05/16/2018)
2018-05-18Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 5/22/2018 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 27A before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (lsj) (Entered: 05/18/2018)
2018-05-22Minute Entry for Status Conference held before Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/22/2018. The parties are directed to continue the rolling production schedule. (Court Reporter: Lisa Moreira) (lsj) (Entered: 05/22/2018)
2018-06-1116TRANSCRIPT OF STATUS CONFERENCE before Judge Christopher R. Cooper held on May 22, 2018; Page Numbers: 1-13. Date of Issuance:June 11, 2018. Court Reporter/Transcriber Lisa A. Moreira, RDR, CRR, Telephone number (202) 354-3187, Transcripts may be ordered by submitting the Transcript Order Form For the first 90 days after this filing date, the transcript may be viewed at the courthouse at a public terminal or purchased from the court reporter referenced above. After 90 days, the transcript may be accessed via PACER. Other transcript formats, (multi-page, condensed, CD or ASCII) may be purchased from the court reporter. NOTICE RE REDACTION OF TRANSCRIPTS: The parties have twenty-one days to file with the court and the court reporter any request to redact personal identifiers from this transcript. If no such requests are filed, the transcript will be made available to the public via PACER without redaction after 90 days. The policy, which includes the five personal identifiers specifically covered, is located on our website at www.dcd.uscourts.gov. Redaction Request due 7/2/2018. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 7/12/2018. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 9/9/2018.(Moreira, Lisa) (Entered: 06/11/2018)
2018-08-1317Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Morgan, Sherri) (Entered: 08/13/2018)
2018-11-1318Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 11/13/2018)
2019-02-1319NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Christopher Charles Hair on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR Substituting for attorney Damon Taaffe (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/13/2019)
2019-02-1320Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/13/2019)
2019-05-1421Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 05/14/2019)
2019-08-1222Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 08/12/2019)
2019-11-0823Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 11/08/2019)
2020-02-0624Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/06/2020)
2020-05-0625Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 05/06/2020)
2020-08-0426Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-11-0227Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2020-12-2328NOTICE of Change of Address by Katherine Ruth Atkinson (Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 12/23/2020)
2021-02-03MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to file a joint status report by February 10, 2021, apprising the Court of the parties' progress since the 27 Joint Status Report. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/3/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/03/2021)
2021-02-1029Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/10/2021)
2021-05-1130Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 05/11/2021)
2021-08-1031Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 08/10/2021)
2021-11-0832Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 11/08/2021)
2022-02-0833Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/08/2022)
2022-04-0834NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Marsha Wellknown Yee on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR Substituting for attorney Christopher C. Hair (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 04/08/2022)
2022-05-0935Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 05/09/2022)
2022-08-0536Joint STATUS REPORT by JOEL CLEMENT. (Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 08/05/2022)
2022-08-3037NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to JOEL CLEMENT. Attorney Lauren E. Naylor terminated. (Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 08/30/2022)
2022-11-0338Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 11/03/2022)
2023-02-0139Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 02/01/2023)
2023-02-02MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 39 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by May 2, 2023. The next joint status report should also indicate how many pages of records remain to be processed and the expected date of completion. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/2/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/02/2023)
2023-05-0140Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 05/01/2023)
2023-05-16MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 40 Joint Status Report, the parties are ordered to appear for a Status Conference set for June 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 27A (in Person) before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/16/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/16/2023)
2023-05-3141Unopposed MOTION for Scheduling Order re Status Conference by JOEL CLEMENT. (Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 05/31/2023)
2023-05-31MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiff's 41 Unopposed Motion to Reschedule Status Conference. The status conference set for June 7, 2023 is hereby vacated and rescheduled for July 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 27A (In Person) before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/31/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/31/2023)
2023-06-01RESOLVED...NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 41 Unopposed MOTION for Scheduling Order re Status Conference by JOEL CLEMENT. (Atkinson, Katherine). Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 6/8/2023. (zbaj) Modified on 6/6/2023 (zbaj). (Entered: 06/01/2023)
2023-06-0942Unopposed MOTION for Scheduling Order to Reschedule Status Conference by JOEL CLEMENT. (Atkinson, Katherine) (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-06-12MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiff's 42 Unopposed Motion to Reschedule Status Conference. The Court hereby vacates the status conference set for July 26, 2023. In lieu of a status conference, the Court directs the parties to file a further joint status report by July 21, 2023. The Court is concerned about the estimated production timeline set forth in the parties' 40 Joint Status Report filed on May 1, 2023, which stated that processing in this case will not be completed until May 31, 2025. Accordingly, the Court directs the parties to meet and confer before filing the next joint status report to discuss what steps might be taken to narrow the scope of Plaintiff's FOIA request or otherwise shorten the lengthy estimated production schedule. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/12/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/12/2023)
2023-07-2043Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/20/2023)
2023-10-1844Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 10/18/2023)
2023-10-20MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 44 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby directed to file a further joint status report by January 16, 2024, unless a stipulation of dismissal is filed by that date. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/20/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/20/2023)
2024-01-1645Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 01/16/2024)
2024-01-17MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 45 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby directed to file a further joint status report by April 17, 2024, unless a stipulation of dismissal is filed by that date. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/17/2024. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
2024-02-1046NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Brian P. Hudak on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR Substituting for attorney Marsha Yee (Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 02/10/2024)
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