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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv02565
Date Filed2018-11-07
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Dabney L. Friedrich
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted ten FOIA requests to the Department of State for records concerning whether high-ranking officials were targeting career or civil service employees based on their perceived ideological preferences. The agency acknowledged receipt of all ten requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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

2018-11-071COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5780370) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 11/07/2018)
2018-11-072LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 11/07/2018)
2018-11-07Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (zmd) (Entered: 11/08/2018)
2018-11-093SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 11/09/2018)
2018-11-194NOTICE of Appearance by Scott Leeson Sroka on behalf of All Defendants (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 11/19/2018)
2018-11-285RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/9/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/9/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 11/16/2018., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 11/15/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 11/28/2018)
2018-12-106ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 12/10/2018)
2018-12-11MINUTE ORDER requiring the parties to MEET AND CONFER and file a joint status report proposing a schedule for further proceedings. The status report should address the status of the plaintiff's FOIA request, including the anticipated number of documents responsive to the request and the anticipated date(s) for release of the requested documents. The parties shall file the joint status report on or before January 7, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 11, 2018. (JK) (Entered: 12/11/2018)
2019-01-077MOTION to Stay , MOTION for Extension of Time to in Light of Lapse of Appropriations by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2019)
2019-01-078RESPONSE re 7 MOTION to Stay MOTION for Extension of Time to in Light of Lapse of Appropriations filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Plaintiff's Status Report)(McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 01/07/2019)
2019-01-07MINUTE ORDER. Within seven calendar days after appropriations are restored to the Department of Justice and Department of State, the parties shall meet and confer and file a joint status report that proposes a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on January 7, 2019. (JK) (Entered: 01/07/2019)
2019-02-019Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 02/01/2019)
2019-02-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before March 1, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 1, 2019. (JK) (Entered: 02/01/2019)
2019-02-01Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 3/1/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 02/03/2019)
2019-03-0110Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 03/01/2019)
2019-03-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before April 23, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 18, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 03/18/2019)
2019-03-18Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 4/23/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 03/23/2019)
2019-04-2311Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 04/23/2019)
2019-04-25MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before June 18, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on April 25, 2019. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-04-25Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 6/18/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-06-1812Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 06/18/2019)
2019-07-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before August 21, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on July 1, 2019. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 07/01/2019)
2019-07-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/21/2019. (zcal) (Entered: 07/01/2019)
2019-08-2113Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 08/21/2019)
2019-08-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before October 22, 2019. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 22, 2019. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 08/22/2019)
2019-10-2114Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties 14 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before December 19, 2019. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 21, 2019. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-12-1915Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 12/19/2019)
2019-12-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before February 20, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 19, 2019. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 12/19/2019)
2020-02-1216NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Paul A. Mussenden on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney scott sroka (Mussenden, Paul) (Entered: 02/12/2020)
2020-02-1317Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 02/13/2020)
2020-02-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 17 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before April 20, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 14, 2020. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 02/14/2020)
2020-04-2018Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 04/20/2020)
2020-04-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before June 11, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on April 21, 2020. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 04/21/2020)
2020-06-1019Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 06/10/2020)
2020-06-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before July 27, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on June 11, 2020. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 06/11/2020)
2020-06-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/27/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 06/11/2020)
2020-07-2720Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 07/27/2020)
2020-07-29MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before September 25, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on July 29, 2020. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 07/29/2020)
2020-09-2521Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 09/25/2020)
2020-09-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before November 9, 2020. So ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 28, 2020. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-09-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 11/9/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-11-0922Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 11/09/2020)
2020-11-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before January 8, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 10, 2020. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2020-11-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 1/8/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2021-01-0823Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Mussenden, Paul) (Entered: 01/08/2021)
2021-01-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before March 9, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on January 11, 2021. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-01-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 3/9/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-03-0324NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Christopher Charles Hair on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Paul A. Mussenden (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 03/03/2021)
2021-03-0925Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 03/09/2021)
2021-03-09MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before May 10, 2021. So ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 9, 2021. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 03/09/2021)
2021-03-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 5/10/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 03/10/2021)
2021-03-3026NOTICE of Appearance by Khahilia Y. Shaw on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Shaw, Khahilia) (Main Document 26 replaced on 3/31/2021) (ztd). (Entered: 03/30/2021)
2021-04-2927NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Daniel Alexander McGrath terminated. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-05-0328NOTICE of Appearance by Katherine Marie Anthony on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Anthony, Katherine) (Entered: 05/03/2021)
2021-05-1029Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 05/10/2021)
2021-05-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before July 13, 2021. So ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 10, 2021. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 05/10/2021)
2021-05-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 7/13/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 05/11/2021)
2021-07-1330Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 07/13/2021)
2021-07-15MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before September 9, 2021. So ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on July 15, 2021. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 07/15/2021)
2021-07-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 9/9/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 07/15/2021)
2021-09-0931Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 09/09/2021)
2021-09-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 31 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before October 5, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 10, 2021. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 09/10/2021)
2021-09-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 10/5/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 09/10/2021)
2021-10-0532Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 10/05/2021)
2021-10-06MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 32 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before November 16, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 6, 2021. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 10/06/2021)
2021-11-1633Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 11/16/2021)
2021-11-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 33 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before January 10, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 16, 2021. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 11/16/2021)
2022-01-1034Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-01-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 34 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before February 10, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on January 10, 2022. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-02-1035Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-02-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 35 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before March 22, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 10, 2022. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-03-2236Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
2022-03-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 36 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before May 20, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 22, 2022. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
2022-05-2037NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Thomas Duffey on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Christopher C. Hair (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 05/20/2022)
2022-05-2038Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 05/20/2022)
2022-05-20MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 38 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before August 19, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 20, 2022. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 05/20/2022)
2022-08-1839Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
2022-08-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 39 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before November 17, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 18, 2022. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
2022-11-1740Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 11/17/2022)
2022-11-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 40 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before February 17, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 17, 2022. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 11/17/2022)
2023-02-1741Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 02/17/2023)
2023-02-1742MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 41 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before May 17, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 17, 2023. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 02/17/2023)
2023-05-1743STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
2023-05-18MINUTE ORDER. The Court previously ordered the parties to submit a joint status report on or before May 17, 2023. Yesterday, the defendant filed a status report reflecting its position alone and representing that the plaintiff did not respond to repeated requests to confer. Accordingly, the plaintiff is directed to submit a responsive status report on or before May 19, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 18, 2023. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 05/18/2023)
2023-05-1944STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Anthony, Katherine) (Entered: 05/19/2023)
2023-05-23MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 43 and 44 Status Reports, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before August 17, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 23, 2023. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 05/23/2023)
2023-08-1745Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 08/17/2023)
2023-08-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 45 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before November 17, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 17, 2023. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 08/17/2023)
2023-08-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 11/17/2023 (zjch, ) (Entered: 08/17/2023)
2023-11-1746Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 11/17/2023)
2023-11-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 46 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before February 16, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 19, 2023. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 11/19/2023)
2024-02-1647Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 02/16/2024)
2024-02-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 47 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before May 16, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 16, 2024. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 02/16/2024)
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