Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleWESTERN VALUES PROJECT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv01755
Date Filed2019-06-17
Date Closed2020-09-21
JudgeJudge John D. Bates
PlaintiffWESTERN VALUES PROJECT
Case DescriptionWestern Values Project submitted six FOIA requests to the Department of Interior, and two components - the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - for records concerning changes in policies pertaining to the sage grouse. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests and told Western Values Project that some of the requests were put on the complex track for processing. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Western Values Project filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Failure to respond within statutory time limit

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DefendantU.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
DefendantU.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
Complaint attachment 10
Complaint attachment 11
Complaint attachment 12
Complaint attachment 13
Complaint attachment 14
Complaint attachment 15
Complaint attachment 16
Complaint attachment 17
Complaint attachment 18
Complaint attachment 19
Complaint attachment 20
Complaint attachment 21
Complaint attachment 22
Complaint attachment 23
Complaint attachment 24
Complaint attachment 25
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-06-171COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6193592) filed by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit Exhibit 8, # 10 Exhibit Exhibit 9, # 11 Exhibit Exhibit 10, # 12 Exhibit Exhibit 11, # 13 Exhibit Exhibit 12, # 14 Exhibit Exhibit 13, # 15 Exhibit Exhibit 14, # 16 Exhibit Exhibit 15, # 17 Exhibit Exhibit 16, # 18 Exhibit Exhibit 17, # 19 Exhibit Exhibit 18, # 20 Exhibit Exhibit 19, # 21 Exhibit Exhibit 20, # 22 Exhibit Exhibit 21, # 23 Summons U.S. Department of the Interior Summons, # 24 Summons U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Summons, # 25 Summons U.S. Bureau of Land Management Summons)(Helle, Sean) (Entered: 06/17/2019)
2019-06-172LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT (Helle, Sean) (Entered: 06/17/2019)
2019-06-18Case Assigned to Judge John D. Bates. (zef, ) (Entered: 06/18/2019)
2019-06-183SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 06/18/2019)
2019-07-254ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 07/25/2019)
2019-07-255RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/26/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/26/2019. (Helle, Sean) (Entered: 07/25/2019)
2019-07-256RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 6/25/2019. (Helle, Sean) (Entered: 07/25/2019)
2019-07-257RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT served on 6/26/2019; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 6/24/2019; U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE served on 6/24/2019 (Helle, Sean) (Entered: 07/25/2019)
2019-07-318NOTICE of Appearance by Benton Gregory Peterson on behalf of All Defendants (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 07/31/2019)
2019-09-119ORDER. See text of Order for details. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 9/11/19. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 09/11/2019)
2019-09-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule for the processing and release of responsive records and/or a briefing schedule for the filing of dispositive motions due by 10/11/2019. (tb) (Entered: 09/11/2019)
2019-10-1110Joint STATUS REPORT with Proposed Schedule by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Helle, Sean) (Entered: 10/11/2019)
2019-10-17MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Proposed Schedule, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a status report by not later than November 21, 2019, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/17/2019. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 10/17/2019)
2019-10-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 11/21/2019. (tb) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-11-2111Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Peterson, Benton) Modified text on 11/21/2019 (ztd). (Entered: 11/21/2019)
2019-11-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a status report by not later than January 25, 2020, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/21/2019. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 11/21/2019)
2019-11-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 1/25/2020. (tb) (Entered: 11/21/2019)
2019-12-1612NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew M. Collette on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Collette, Matthew) (Entered: 12/16/2019)
2019-12-1813NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. Attorney Sean M. Helle terminated. (Helle, Sean) (Entered: 12/18/2019)
2020-01-2414Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 01/24/2020)
2020-01-27MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 14 joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a status report by not later than March 25, 2020, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 01/27/2020. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 01/27/2020)
2020-01-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 3/25/2020. (tb) (Entered: 01/29/2020)
2020-03-2515Joint STATUS REPORT by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Collette, Matthew) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-25MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 15 joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another status report by not later than May 25, 2020, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 3/25/2020. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/25/2020. (tb) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-05-2216Joint STATUS REPORT by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Collette, Matthew) (Entered: 05/22/2020)
2020-05-22MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 16 joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another status report by not later than July 24, 2020, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 5/22/2020. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 05/22/2020)
2020-05-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/24/2020. (tb) (Entered: 05/26/2020)
2020-07-2417Joint STATUS REPORT by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Collette, Matthew) (Entered: 07/24/2020)
2020-07-24MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 17 joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another status report by not later than August 21, 2020, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 7/24/2020. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 07/24/2020)
2020-07-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 8/21/2020. (tb) (Entered: 07/24/2020)
2020-08-2118Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-08-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 18 joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file either a stipulation of dismissal or another status report, to include a proposed schedule for further proceedings, by not later than September 21, 2020. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 8/21/2020. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-08-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Stipulation of Dismissal or Joint Status Report due by 9/21/2020. (tb) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-09-2119STIPULATION of Dismissal and Settlement by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Collette, Matthew) (Entered: 09/21/2020)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar