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Case TitleBUZZFEED INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv01523
Date Filed2018-06-26
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffBUZZFEED, INC.
Case DescriptionBuzzfeed, Inc. submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Ombudsman Julie Kirchner's work activities. The agency rejected Buzzfeed's request as too broad. Buzzfeed filed an administrative appeal. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Buzzfeed filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-06-261COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5556205) filed by BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit C, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/26/2018)
2018-06-262NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/26/2018)
2018-06-26Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zsth) (Entered: 06/26/2018)
2018-06-263SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsth) (Entered: 06/26/2018)
2018-07-094NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua L. Rogers on behalf of All Defendants (Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 07/09/2018)
2018-07-115RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 7/3/2018 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/11/2018)
2018-07-116RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/05/2018. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/11/2018)
2018-07-117RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/5/2018. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/4/2018. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/11/2018)
2018-07-118NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Lynn Schafer on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Schafer, Matthew) (Entered: 07/11/2018)
2018-08-039ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 08/03/2018)
2018-08-13MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues and that contains a proposed schedule and proposed order no later than 9/14/18. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 8/13/18. (DJS) (Entered: 08/13/2018)
2018-08-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/14/2018. (tb) (Entered: 08/14/2018)
2018-09-1410Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 09/14/2018)
2018-10-18MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 10 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint report by October 26, 2018. The report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/18/18. (DJS) (Entered: 10/18/2018)
2018-10-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/26/2018. (tb) (Entered: 10/22/2018)
2018-10-2611Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 10/26/2018)
2018-10-29MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 11 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint report by 12/20/18 and every 60 days thereafter. To the extent the parties propose a briefing schedule, the report shall include a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/29/18. (DJS) (Entered: 10/29/2018)
2018-10-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/20/2018. (tb) (Entered: 10/30/2018)
2018-12-1412Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 12/14/2018)
2018-12-16MINUTE ORDER : Granting 12 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report. The parties shall file a Joint Report by January 4, 2019, and every 60 days thereafter. To the extent the parties propose a production schedule and/or briefing schedule, the status report shall include a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/16/18. (DJS) (Entered: 12/16/2018)
2018-12-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/4/2019. (tb) (Entered: 12/18/2018)
2018-12-2613MOTION to Stay All Proceedings in Light of Lapse of Appropriations by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 12/26/2018)
2018-12-27MINUTE ORDER: Granting 13 Motion to Stay. All deadlines are hereby STAYED. Defendant's counsel shall notify the Court as soon as Congress has appropriated funds for the Justice Department, and it is further ordered, that all current deadlines for the parties shall be extended commensurate with the duration of the lapse in appropriations. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/27/18. (DJS) (Entered: 12/27/2018)
2019-02-2814NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to BUZZFEED INC.. Attorney Matthew Lynn Schafer terminated. (Schafer, Matthew) (Entered: 02/28/2019)
2019-03-1315Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 03/13/2019)
2019-03-14MINUTE ORDER LIFTING STAY: Effective 1/28/19. The parties shall file a joint status report by May 13, 2019. To the extent the report contains a proposed production or briefing schedule, the report shall include a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 3/14/19. (DJS) (Entered: 03/14/2019)
2019-03-2516LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 03/25/2019)
2019-05-1417Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 05/14/2019)
2019-07-02MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall file a joint status report by 7/12/19 and every 60 days thereafter. To the extent the report contains a proposed briefing or production schedule, the report shall include a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/2/19. (DJS) (Entered: 07/02/2019)
2019-07-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/12/2019. (tb) (Entered: 07/02/2019)
2019-07-1218Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-08-0619NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 08/06/2019)
2019-09-1020Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-11-0821Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 11/08/2019)
2020-01-0322NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by William J. Chang on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Substituting for attorney JOSHUA ROGERS (Chang, William) (Entered: 01/03/2020)
2020-01-0723Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Chang, William) (Entered: 01/07/2020)
2020-03-0524Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Chang, William) (Entered: 03/05/2020)
2020-05-0525Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Chang, William) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-07-0726Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED, INC.. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/07/2020)
2020-09-0227Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED, INC.. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 09/02/2020)
2020-10-2628NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Marsha Wellknown Yee on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Substituting for attorney AUSA William Chang (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 10/26/2020)
2020-11-0529Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 11/05/2020)
2020-11-12MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 29 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint report by 2/4/21, and every 90 days thereafter. To the extent the report contains a proposed briefing or production schedule, the report shall include a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 11/12/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
2020-11-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/4/2021. (tb) (Entered: 11/16/2020)
2021-02-0430Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 02/04/2021)
2021-05-0531Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 05/05/2021)
2021-08-0332Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/03/2021)
2021-11-0133Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 11/01/2021)
2022-01-2834Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 01/28/2022)
2022-04-2835Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-07-2736Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/27/2022)
2022-10-2537Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 10/25/2022)
2023-01-2338Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 01/23/2023)
2023-04-1939Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 04/19/2023)
2023-07-1840Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/18/2023)
2023-10-1641Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 10/16/2023)
2024-01-1142Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 01/11/2024)
2024-02-1043NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Brian P. Hudak on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Substituting for attorney Marsha Yee (Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 02/10/2024)
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