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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv00388
Date Filed2019-02-14
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted three FOIA requests to the FBI for records concerning memoranda signed by acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe between April and May 2017, as well as any mention of using the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump. The agency acknowledged receipt of that request. Judicial Watch submitted a second FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning surreptitious recordings made by anyone at DOJ of meetings between officials from the White House or the Vice President's Office. Judicial Watch submitted a third FOIA to DOJ for records concerning Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's participation in any of these meetings. The agency acknowledged receipt of all three requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Vaughn index, Adequacy - Search, 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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-02-141COMPLAINT against U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5947941) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Department of Justice)(Peterson, James) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-02-142LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Peterson, James) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-02-14Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zef, ) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-02-143SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-03-264RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/25/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/24/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/25/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 3/25/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Peterson, James) (Entered: 03/26/2019)
2019-04-245NOTICE of Appearance by Serena Maya Schulz Orloff on behalf of U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Orloff, Serena) (Entered: 04/24/2019)
2019-04-246ANSWER to Complaint by U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Orloff, Serena) (Entered: 04/24/2019)
2019-04-257MINUTE ORDER. Both a Complaint and an Answer are now before the court in this FOIA case. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before May 9, 2019. The Joint Status Report shall include (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/25/2019. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-04-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/9/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 04/26/2019)
2019-05-098Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Orloff, Serena) (Entered: 05/09/2019)
2019-05-09MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file a Joint Status Report outlining Defendant's search and production efforts on or before August 31, 2019. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/09/2019. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/09/2019)
2019-05-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/31/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 05/10/2019)
2019-08-309Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Orloff, Serena) (Entered: 08/30/2019)
2019-08-30MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before October 9, 2019, which advises the court whether any disputes remain and, if so, proposes a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 08/30/2019. (lcapm1) (Entered: 08/30/2019)
2019-09-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/9/2019. (mac) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
2019-10-0910Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Orloff, Serena) (Entered: 10/09/2019)
2019-10-11MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report by November 13, 2019, which advises whether summary judgment briefing will be necessary and, if so, proposes a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/11/2019. (lcapm1) (Entered: 10/11/2019)
2019-10-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/13/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 10/16/2019)
2019-11-1311Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Peterson, James) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
2019-11-1412ORDER entering the briefing schedule proposed in the parties' 11 Joint Status Report. The schedule for further proceedings in this matter is as follows: (1) Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before December 20, 2019; (2) Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendant's Motion and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before January 17, 2020; (3) Defendant's Reply and Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before February 7, 2020; and (4) Plaintiff's Reply is due on or before February 21, 2020. See the attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 11/14/2019. (lcapm1) (Entered: 11/14/2019)
2019-11-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment due by 12/20/2019. Plaintiff's Opposition and Cross-Motion due by 1/17/2020. Defendant's Reply and Opposition due by 2/7/2020. Plaintiff's Reply due by 2/21/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 11/15/2019)
2019-12-2013MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of David Hardy, # 2 Declaration of Vanessa Brinkmann, # 3 Proposed Order)(Orloff, Serena) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2020-01-1514Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 13 MOTION for Summary Judgment by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Peterson, James) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-01-16MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiff's 14 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. The schedule for further proceedings in this matter is adjusted as follows: Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendant's Motion and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before February 7, 2020; Defendant's Reply and Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is due on or before March 6, 2020; and Plaintiff's Reply is due on or before March 20, 2020. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 1/16/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 01/16/2020)
2020-01-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff's Opposition and Cross Motion due by 2/7/2020. Defendant's Reply and Opposition due by 3/6/2020. Defendant's Reply due by 3/20/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 01/17/2020)
2020-02-0415STIPULATION of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Peterson, James) (Entered: 02/04/2020)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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