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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv00932
Date Filed2018-04-20
Date Closed2019-08-15
JudgeJudge Reggie B. Walton
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning communications between former director James Comey and the Special Counsel's Office about the production of materials to the Special Counsel's Office. The FBI acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency issued a Glomar response neither confirming nor denying the existence of records, citing Exemption 7(A) (interference with ongoing investigation or proceeding). Judicial Watch filed an administrative appeal, which was denied. Judicial Watch then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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

2018-04-201COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5433687) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons US. Attorney for DC, # 3 Summons US Attorney General, # 4 Summons Summons DOJ)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/20/2018)
2018-04-202LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/20/2018)
2018-04-20Case Assigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton. (zsth) (Entered: 04/23/2018)
2018-04-233SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsth) (Entered: 04/23/2018)
2018-05-094RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/3/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/2/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 4/30/2018., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 4/30/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/09/2018)
2018-05-095GENERAL ORDER. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on May 9, 2018. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 05/09/2018)
2018-05-096NOTICE of Correction to Filing by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. re 4 Summons Returned Executed in FOIA as to U.S. Attorney,,, Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General,,, Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant,, (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/09/2018)
2018-06-047ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 06/04/2018)
2018-06-04MINUTE ORDER. To ensure the expeditious resolution of this action, and because this qualifies as an exempted case under Local Civil Rule 16.3(b), it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint proposed schedule governing further proceedings on or before June 25, 2018. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on June 4, 2018. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 06/04/2018)
2018-06-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 6/25/2018 (hs) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-228PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE Proposed Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Feldon, Gary) Modified event title on 7/5/2018 (znmw). (Entered: 06/22/2018)
2018-06-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Proposed Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before August 24, 2018. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its cross-motion for summary judgment and an opposition to the defendant's motion on or before September 24, 2018. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file its reply in support of its motion and its opposition to the plaintiff's cross-motion on or before October 24, 2018. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its reply in support of its cross-motion on or before November 7, 2018. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on June 22, 2018. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 06/22/2018)
2018-06-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Summary Judgment motions due by 8/24/2018. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment/Cross Motion due by 9/24/2018. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/24/2018. Reply to Cross Motion due by 11/7/2018. (hs) (Entered: 06/25/2018)
2018-08-219Consent MOTION to Vacate Set/Reset Deadlines, , Consent MOTION for Scheduling Order by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 08/21/2018)
2018-08-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 9 Consent Motion to Vacate Scheduling Order, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that this motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the summary judgment briefing schedule entered on June 22, 2018, is VACATED. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall complete its search for responsive records on or before September 14, 2018. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report apprising the Court of how they wish to proceed in this case on or before September 28, 2018. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 21, 2018. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 08/21/2018)
2018-09-2810Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 09/28/2018)
2018-10-0211NOTICE of Change of Address by Gary Daniel Feldon (Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 10/02/2018)
2018-10-0312ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant shall produce to the plaintiff any responsive documents it intends to disclose and a written description of any withholdings on or before November 16, 2018. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall notify the defendant in writing of any objections to the defendant's production on or before November 30, 2018. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall appear for a status conference on December 19, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., to discuss how this case should proceed and, if necessary, set a briefing schedule for dispositive motions. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 3, 2018. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 10/03/2018)
2018-10-03Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 12/19/2018 at 02:00 PM in Courtroom 16 before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (hs) (Entered: 10/03/2018)
2018-12-19Minute Entry; for proceedings held before Judge Reggie B. Walton: Status Conference held on 12/19/2018. Scheduling Order to issue via Chambers. Status Conference set for 7/1/2019 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 16 before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (Court Reporter Cathryn Jones) (hs) (Entered: 12/19/2018)
2018-12-1913ORDER. In accordance with the Court's oral rulings issued at the status conference held on the same date, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before January 21, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its opposition to the defendant's motion and any cross-motion for summary judgment on or before February 18, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file its reply in support of its motion and opposition to any cross-motion on or before March 18, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its reply in support of any cross-motion on or before April 1, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall appear for a status conference on July 1, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on December 19, 2018. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 12/19/2018)
2018-12-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Summary Judgment motion due by 1/21/2019. Plaintiff's Response to Motion for Summary Judgment/Cross Motion due by 2/18/2010. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/18/2019. Reply to Cross Motions due by 4/1/2019 (hs) (Entered: 12/20/2018)
2019-01-1714Consent MOTION to Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 01/17/2019)
2019-01-22MINUTE ORDER. It appearing to the Court that the defendant, in this case, inadvertently filed the 14 Defendant's Consent Motion for a Stay in Light of Lapse of Appropriations, which contains a case caption for a matter pending before another member of this Court, it is hereby ORDERED that this motion is DENIED. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on January 22, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 01/22/2019)
2019-01-2415ERRATA Statement by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 14 Consent MOTION to Stay filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Motion, # 2 Memorandum in Support, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 01/24/2019)
2019-01-24MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 15 Defendant's Consent Motion for a Stay in Light of Lapse of Appropriations, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. The motion is GRANTED to the extent that the government seeks to vacate the impending deadlines in this case. The motion is DENIED in all other respects. It is further ORDERED that the impending deadlines in this case are VACATED pending further Order of the Court. It is further ORDERED that, on or before fourteen days after appropriations have been restored, the parties shall file a joint status report proposing new deadlines in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on January 24, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 01/24/2019)
2019-02-1116ENTERED IN ERROR..... MOTION to Dismiss by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Feldon, Gary); Modified on 2/12/2019 (ztth). (Entered: 02/11/2019)
2019-02-1117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 02/11/2019)
2019-02-12NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: re 16 MOTION to Dismiss was entered in error. Document was filed in the wrong case number. (tth) (Entered: 02/12/2019)
2019-02-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before February 22, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its opposition to the defendant's motion and any cross-motion for summary judgment on or before March 22, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file its reply in support of its motion and opposition to any cross-motion on or before April 19, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its reply in support of any cross-motion on or before May 3, 2019. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 14, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-02-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motion due by 2/22/2019. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/22/2019. Reply in support of Motion for Summary Judgment due by 4/19/2019. Cross Motion due by 3/22/2019. Response to Cross Motion due by 4/19/2019. Reply in support of Cross Motion due by 5/3/2019. (hs) (Entered: 02/15/2019)
2019-02-2218Consent MOTION to Modify Scheduling Order by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 02/22/2019)
2019-02-25MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 18 Consent Motion to Modify Scheduling Order, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that this motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the deadlines for summary judgment briefing in this case are VACATED. It is further ORDERED that, on or before March 26, 2019, the parties shall file a joint status report regarding how they wish to proceed. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 25, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 02/25/2019)
2019-02-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/26/2019 (hs) (Entered: 02/26/2019)
2019-03-2619Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 03/26/2019)
2019-04-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before April 16, 2019, the parties shall file a joint status report regarding how they wish to proceed. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on April 1, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 04/01/2019)
2019-04-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/16/2019 (hs) (Entered: 04/01/2019)
2019-04-1620Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 04/16/2019)
2019-04-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before April 30, 2019, the parties shall file a joint status report regarding how they wish to proceed. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on April 17, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 04/17/2019)
2019-04-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/30/2019 (hs) (Entered: 04/17/2019)
2019-04-3021Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 04/30/2019)
2019-05-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before July 9, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its opposition to the defendant's motion and any cross-motion for summary judgment on or before August 9, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file its reply in support of its motion and opposition to any cross-motion on or before September 9, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its reply in support of any cross-motion on or before September 23, 2019. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on May 3, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 05/03/2019)
2019-05-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motions due by 7/9/2019. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment/Cross Motion due by 8/9/2019. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/9/2019. Reply in support of Cross Motions due by 9/23/2019. (hs) (Entered: 05/03/2019)
2019-06-24MINUTE ORDER. It appearing unnecessary for the Court to hold a status conference given that the parties have not yet filed their cross-motions for summary judgment, it is hereby ORDERED that the status conference currently scheduled for July 1, 2019, is CONTINUED to January 3, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on June 24, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-07-0322Consent MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 07/03/2019)
2019-07-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 22 Defendant's Consent Motion to Modify Briefing Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that this motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before July 23, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its opposition to the defendant's motion and any cross-motion for summary judgment on or before August 23, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file its reply in support of its motion and opposition to any cross-motion on or before September 23, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its reply in support of any cross-motion on or before October 7, 2019. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on July 8, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 07/08/2019)
2019-07-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motions due by 8/23/2019. Response to Cross Motions due by 9/23/2019. Reply to Cross Motions due by 10/7/2019. Summary Judgment motions due by 7/23/2019. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 8/23/2019. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/23/2019. (gdf) (Entered: 07/09/2019)
2019-07-2323MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Feldon, Gary) (Entered: 07/23/2019)
2019-08-1224STIPULATION of Dismissal with Prejudice by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 08/12/2019)
2019-08-15MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 24 Stipulation of Dismissal With Prejudice, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED with prejudice. It is further ORDERED that this case is CLOSED. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 15, 2019. (lcrbw1) (Entered: 08/15/2019)
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