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Case TitleHUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv01555
Date Filed2019-05-28
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffHUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER
Case DescriptionThe Human Rights Defense Center submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Marshals Service for records concerning deaths of prisoners while in the custody of the Marshals Service. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency disclosed 193 pages with redactions under Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records) and Exemption 7(F) (harm to any person) for information identifying Deputy Marshals and other law enforcement officers. HRDC filed an administrative appeal. The agency acknowledged receipt of the appeal, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, HRDC filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DefendantU. S. MARSHALS SERVICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-05-281COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6148072) filed by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Ban, Victor) (Entered: 05/28/2019)
2019-05-30Case Assigned to Judge James E. Boasberg. (zef, ) (Entered: 05/30/2019)
2019-05-302SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U. S. MARSHALS SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 05/30/2019)
2019-06-043RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/30/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/29/2019. (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/04/2019)
2019-06-044RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/30/2019. (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/04/2019)
2019-06-045RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U. S. MARSHALS SERVICE served on 5/30/2019; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 5/30/2019 (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/04/2019)
2019-06-24Case directly reassigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge James E. Boasberg is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-06-306NOTICE of Appearance by Paul A. Mussenden on behalf of All Defendants (Mussenden, Paul) (Entered: 06/30/2019)
2019-06-307Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by U. S. MARSHALS SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Mussenden, Paul) (Entered: 06/30/2019)
2019-07-02MINUTE ORDER granting 7 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the Defendants shall file an Answer to the Complaint or propose a joint scheduling order for further proceedings in this case by not later than 8/06/2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 7/02/2019. (zad) (Entered: 07/02/2019)
2019-08-068ANSWER to Complaint by U. S. MARSHALS SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Mussenden, Paul) (Entered: 08/06/2019)
2019-08-14MINUTE 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 16, 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 14, 2019. (lccjn1) (Entered: 08/14/2019)
2019-08-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/16/2019. (mac) (Entered: 08/15/2019)
2019-09-119NOTICE of Appearance by Blake Berkeley Hulnick on behalf of HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER (Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 09/11/2019)
2019-09-1610Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by November 15, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 17, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 09/17/2019)
2019-09-17Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 11/15/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 09/18/2019)
2019-10-1411NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. Attorney Victor Duen-Li Ban terminated. (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 10/14/2019)
2019-11-1512Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 11/15/2019)
2019-11-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by January 14, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 18, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 1/14/2020. (mac) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2020-01-1413Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 01/14/2020)
2020-01-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by March 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 14, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 01/14/2020)
2020-01-14Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 3/6/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-03-0614Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 03/06/2020)
2020-03-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by May 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 8, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 03/08/2020)
2020-03-08Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 5/5/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 03/12/2020)
2020-05-0515Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-05-05MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by July 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 5, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-05-05Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 7/6/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-07-0616Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 07/06/2020)
2020-07-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by August 20, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on July 7, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 07/07/2020)
2020-07-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/20/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 07/07/2020)
2020-08-2017Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 08/20/2020)
2020-08-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by October 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 21, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-08-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/5/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-09-1518STIPULATION of Dismissal by U. S. MARSHALS SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Mussenden, Paul) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
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