Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleLEGACY FOUNDATION v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv01389
Date Filed2019-05-14
Date Closed2023-05-22
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffLEGACY FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionThe Legacy Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the Federal Election Commission for records concerning communications between Commissioner Weintraub or her staff and CREW, the Campaign Legal Center, or Mother Jones. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. In response to queries from the Legacy Foundation, the agency told LF that is was processing the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, the Legacy Foundation filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-05-141COMPLAINT against FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6122835) filed by The Legacy Foundation. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Appendix Appendix A, # 6 Appendix Appendix B)(Torchinsky, Jason) (Attachment 1 replaced on 5/16/2019) (zef, ). (Entered: 05/14/2019)
2019-05-142LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by The Legacy Foundation (Torchinsky, Jason) (Main Document 2 replaced on 5/16/2019) (zef, ). (Entered: 05/14/2019)
2019-05-16Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zef, ) (Entered: 05/16/2019)
2019-05-163SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 05/16/2019)
2019-06-244ENTERED IN ERROR.....CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by LEGACY FOUNDATION . (Torchinsky, Jason) Modified on 6/27/2019 (jf). (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-06-24Case directly reassigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-06-27NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: Document No. re 4 Certificate of Service was entered in error and counsel was instructed to refile said pleading using the "Service of Process" event (jf) (Entered: 06/27/2019)
2019-06-275ENTERED IN ERROR.....RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. LEGACY FOUNDATION served on 6/27/2019 (Torchinsky, Jason) Modified on 6/28/2019 (jf). (Entered: 06/27/2019)
2019-06-28NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: Document No. re 5 Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant was entered in error and counsel was instructed to refile said pleading as to the correct defendant(s). Should counsel need assistance, please contact the ECF Help Desk @ (202) 354-3190 to speak with a civil case administrator. (jf) (Entered: 06/28/2019)
2019-06-286RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION served on 6/14/2019 (Torchinsky, Jason) (Entered: 06/28/2019)
2019-07-037NOTICE of Appearance by Robert William Bonham, III on behalf of FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 07/03/2019)
2019-07-038NOTICE of Appearance by Harry Jacobs Summers on behalf of FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (Summers, Harry) (Entered: 07/03/2019)
2019-07-039NOTICE of Appearance by Kevin Deeley on behalf of FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (Deeley, Kevin) (Entered: 07/03/2019)
2019-07-0310ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.(Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 07/03/2019)
2019-08-13MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. The requirements of Local Civil Rule 16.3 and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) appear to be inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before September 13, 2019. The Joint Status Report shall address: (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 Carl J. Nichols on August 13, 2019. (lccjn1) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
2019-08-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/13/2019. (mac) (Entered: 08/14/2019)
2019-09-1311Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-09-26MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional Joint Status Report on or before October 16, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 26, 2019. (lccjn3) (Entered: 09/26/2019)
2019-09-26Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 10/16/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 09/29/2019)
2019-10-1612Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 10/16/2019)
2019-10-2113Joint MOTION to Stay by FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-23MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the Parties' 13 Joint Motion to Stay, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED and that this litigation is stayed until the Commission regains a complement of at least four FEC Commissioners. The Parties shall promptly notify the Court once the Commission regains a complement of at least four Commissioners. In addition, within 60 days after the date the Commission regains four members, the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report regarding the status of the attorney's fee and costs dispute and, if necessary, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 23, 2019. (lccjn3) (Entered: 10/23/2019)
2019-10-23Case Stayed. (zcdw) (Entered: 10/23/2019)
2020-06-1714NOTICE of Restoration of Quorum by FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 06/17/2020)
2020-06-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 14 Joint Notice of Restoration of Quorum, and consistent with the Court's October 23, 2019 Minute Order, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report on or before August 4, 2020. It is further ORDERED that the stay in this matter is lifted. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 22, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 06/22/2020)
2020-06-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/4/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 06/23/2020)
2020-08-0415Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-08-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Motion due by 8/31/2020. Response due by 9/28/2020. Reply due by 10/19/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 09/01/2020)
2020-08-3116MOTION for Attorney Fees by LEGACY FOUNDATION (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit)(Torchinsky, Jason) (Entered: 08/31/2020)
2020-08-31MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that: on or before August 31, 2020, Plaintiff shall file its Motion for Attorney's Fees and Costs; on or before September 28, 2020, Defendant shall file its Opposition; and on or before October 19, 2020, Plaintiff shall file its Reply.. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 28, 2020. (lccjn3) (Entered: 08/31/2020)
2020-09-2817Memorandum in opposition to re 16 MOTION for Attorney Fees filed by FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-10-1918REPLY to opposition to motion re 16 MOTION for Attorney Fees filed by LEGACY FOUNDATION. (Torchinsky, Jason) (Entered: 10/19/2020)
2020-10-3019NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. Attorney Robert William Bonham, III terminated. (Bonham, Robert) (Entered: 10/30/2020)
2023-05-2220ORDER denying 16 Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 22, 2023. (lccjn3) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar