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Case TitleGannett Co., Inc. et al v. U.S. Department of Justice
DistrictNorthern District of Illinois
CityChicago
Case Number1:2018cv00978
Date Filed2018-02-07
Date Closed2019-03-15
JudgeHonorable Robert W. Gettleman
PlaintiffGannett Co., Inc.
PlaintiffRobin Amer
Case DescriptionRobin Amer, an investigative journalist, submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for a copy of audiotapes concerning Operation Silver Shovel, a political corruption investigation conducted by the FBI in Chicago in the 1990s. The FBI denied Amer's request for the audiotapes on the basis of Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy) and Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records). Gannett Co. filed an administrative appeal on behalf of Amer. The agency acknowledged receipt of the appeal, but after hearing nothing further Gannett and Amer filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. Department of Justice
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-02-071COMPLAINT filed by GANNETT CO., INC, ROBIN AMER; Filing fee $ 400, receipt number 0752-14095016. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Civil Cover Sheet)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 02/07/2018)
2018-02-072ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs ROBIN AMER, GANNETT CO., INC by Matthew Vincent Topic (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 02/07/2018)
2018-02-07CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Mary M. Rowland. (meg, ) (Entered: 02/07/2018)
2018-02-073ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs ROBIN AMER, GANNETT CO., INC by Joshua Hart Burday (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 02/07/2018)
2018-02-07SUMMONS Issued as to Defendant U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (kms) (Entered: 02/07/2018)
2018-02-074(CORRECTED) AMENDED complaint by GANNETT CO., INC, ROBIN AMER against GANNETT CO., INC, ROBIN AMER (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 02/07/2018)
2018-02-235DESIGNATION of Virginia Ovitz Hancock as U.S. Attorney for Defendant U.S. Department of Justice (Hancock, Virginia) (Entered: 02/23/2018)
2018-03-156ANSWER to amended complaint by U.S. Department of Justice(Hancock, Virginia) (Entered: 03/15/2018)
2018-03-167ORDER Signed by the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman on 3/16/2018: The parties are to file a joint status report by 4/11/2018. this matter is set for a hearing to report on status on 4/19/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn) (Entered: 03/16/2018)
2018-04-058MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing set for 4/19/2018 is reset to 4/24/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn) (Entered: 04/05/2018)
2018-04-109MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: The parties' joint status report set for filing by 4/11/2018 is reset to 4/17/2018. Mailed notice (cn) (Entered: 04/10/2018)
2018-04-1710STATUS Report Parties' Joint Status Report by U.S. Department of Justice (Hancock, Virginia) (Entered: 04/17/2018)
2018-04-2411MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 4/24/2018. Status hearing set for 6/28/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn) (Entered: 04/24/2018)
2018-06-2812MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 6/28/2018. Status hearing set for 7/26/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn) (Entered: 06/29/2018)
2018-07-0513STATUS Report Joint Status Report by U.S. Department of Justice (Hancock, Virginia) (Entered: 07/05/2018)
2018-07-2614MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing set for 7/26/2018 is stricken and reset to 8/22/2018 at 9:10 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 07/26/2018)
2018-08-2215MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 8/22/2018. Status hearing set for 10/23/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 08/22/2018)
2018-10-2316MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 10/23/2018 and continued to 11/13/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 10/23/2018)
2018-11-1317MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 11/13/2018 and continued to 12/13/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 11/13/2018)
2018-12-1318MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 12/13/2018. Status hearing set for 1/10/2019 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 12/14/2018)
2018-12-2619GENERAL ORDER 18-0028 dated 12/26/18: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, effective December 26, 2018, that all civil litigation involving as a party the United States of America, is immediately suspended, postponed and held in abeyance continuing for a period of fourteen (14) days from the date of entry of this General Order (For Further Details See Attached Order). Signed by the Honorable Ruben Castillo on 12/26/2018: Mailed notice. (sm, ) (Entered: 12/30/2018)
2019-01-0320MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing set for 1/10/2019 is stricken and reset to 1/31/2019 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 01/03/2019)
2019-01-0821AMENDED GENERAL ORDER 18-0028 dated 01/08/2019: On December 26, 2018, General Order 18-0028 was entered. It appearing that the lapse of congressional appropriations funding the federal government continues, therefore General Order 18-0028 is now amended. (For Further Details See Attached Order). Signed by the Honorable Ruben Castillo on 1/8/2019: Mailed notice. (sm, ) (Entered: 01/08/2019)
2019-01-2822GENERAL ORDER 19-0004: RESETTING OF DEADLINES IN CIVIL MATTERS INVOLVING THE UNITED STATES AS A PARTY. IT APPEARING THAT as a result of the partial federal government shutdown, this Court amended General Order 18-0028 suspending as of December 21, 2018, all civil litigation in which the United States of America, its agencies, its officers, or employees were parties, with the stated intention of clarifying schedules in such cases upon the expiration of the lapse in appropriations; and IT FURTHER APPEARING THAT appropriations having been restored to fund the Department of Justice and other Executive Branch agencies, with employees beginning to report for work beginning on January 28, 2019; accordingly IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the stay entered by General Order 18-0028 is hereby lifted, and any and all deadlines in the affected civil litigation (whether established by order, rule, or agreement.), including but not limited to any scheduled discovery and pleading dates, are extended by 42 days. (For Further Details See Attached Order). Signed by the Honorable Ruben Castillo on 1/28/2019: Mailed notice. (mgw, ) (Entered: 01/28/2019)
2019-01-2923MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Due to the extreme weather conditions forecasted for Thursday, 1/31/2019, Judge Gettleman will not hold court. Status hearing set for 1/31/2019 is stricken and reset to 3/20/2019 at 9:10 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 01/29/2019)
2019-03-1424STIPULATION of Dismissal Settlement and Stipulation of Dismissal (Hancock, Virginia) (Entered: 03/14/2019)
2019-03-1525MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: On stipulation 24 and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Prcoedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) this case is dismissed with prejudice. Status hearing set for 3/20/2019 is stricken. Civil case terminated. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 03/15/2019)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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