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Case TitleCITIZENS UNITED v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv02108
Date Filed2019-07-16
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Dabney L. Friedrich
PlaintiffCITIZENS UNITED
Case DescriptionCitizens United submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of State for records concerning communications from a number of listed officials pertaining to various topics. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Citizens United filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-07-161COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6256558) filed by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C, # 5 Exhibit D, # 6 Summons to the Attorney General, # 7 Summons to the State Dept, # 8 Summons to the US Attorney)(Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 07/16/2019)
2019-07-162LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CITIZENS UNITED (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 07/16/2019)
2019-07-18Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (zef, ) (Entered: 07/18/2019)
2019-07-183SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 07/18/2019)
2019-08-264NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Patrick Schaefer on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 08/26/2019)
2019-08-265ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 08/26/2019)
2019-08-27MINUTE ORDER requiring the parties to MEET AND CONFER and file a joint status report proposing a schedule for further proceedings on or before September 10, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 27, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-08-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/10/2019. (zcal) (Entered: 08/28/2019)
2019-09-106Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 6 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before October 10, 2019. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 11, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 09/11/2019)
2019-10-107Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-10ENTERED IN ERROR.....MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the plaintiffs' 66 Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the government shall file a response on or before October 16, 2019, updating the Court on the status of the proceedings referenced in the plaintiffs' 66 Status Report. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 10, 2019. (lcdlf2) Modified on 10/15/2019 (zcal). (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 7 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before November 13, 2019, to update the Court on the status of the defendant's searches for responsive records and to propose a schedule for further proceedings. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 10, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Response due by 10/16/2019. (zcal) (Entered: 10/11/2019)
2019-10-15NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: Minute Order filed 10/10/2019 setting deadline of 10/16/2019 was entered in error. It was entered in the incorrect case. (zcal) (Entered: 10/15/2019)
2019-11-138Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
2019-11-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before January 13, 2019, and every sixty days thereafter, providing an update on the status of the defendant's productions, until the defendant's processing of the records and final response is complete. At this time, the Court accepts the government's proposed rate of production of 300 pages per month. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 14, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 11/14/2019)
2019-11-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/13/2019. (zcal) (Entered: 11/14/2019)
2020-01-139Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 01/13/2020)
2020-01-13MINUTE 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 13, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on January 13, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 01/13/2020)
2020-03-1310Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-03-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before May 12, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 16, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 03/16/2020)
2020-04-0211Unopposed MOTION to Stay by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Stein Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 04/02/2020)
2020-04-06MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 11 Unopposed Motion to Stay Proceedings, it is ORDERED that the motion is granted. Accordingly, these proceedings are STAYED until further order of this Court. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file a status report by May 6, 2020, and every thirty (30) days thereafter, advising the Court whether operations have resumed and, if so, proposing a revised schedule for productions to continue in this case. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on April 6, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 04/06/2020)
2020-04-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 5/6/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 04/07/2020)
2020-05-0612STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 05/06/2020)
2020-05-06MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before June 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 6, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 05/06/2020)
2020-05-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 6/5/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 05/07/2020)
2020-06-0513STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 06/05/2020)
2020-07-0614STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 07/06/2020)
2020-07-3115STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-09-0816STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-09MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 16 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall lift the stay in this case and that the defendant shall file another status report on or before October 9, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 9, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 09/09/2020)
2020-10-0917STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 10/09/2020)
2020-10-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 17 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before November 9, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 12, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 10/12/2020)
2020-10-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 11/9/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 10/13/2020)
2020-11-0918STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 11/09/2020)
2020-11-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 18 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before December 9, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 10, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2020-11-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/9/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2020-12-0919STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 12/09/2020)
2020-12-09MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 19 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before January 8, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 9, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 12/09/2020)
2020-12-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 1/8/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 12/10/2020)
2021-01-0820STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 01/08/2021)
2021-01-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 20 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before February 8, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on January 11, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-01-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 2/8/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-02-0821STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 02/08/2021)
2021-02-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 21 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before March 10, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 8, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 02/08/2021)
2021-02-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 3/10/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 02/09/2021)
2021-03-1022STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 03/10/2021)
2021-03-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 22 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before May 19, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 12, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 5/19/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-05-1923STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 05/19/2021)
2021-05-25MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 23 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before August 11, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 25, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 05/25/2021)
2021-05-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 8/11/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 05/25/2021)
2021-08-1124STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
2021-08-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 24 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before October 13, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 11, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
2021-10-1325STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 10/13/2021)
2021-10-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 25 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before December 10, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 13, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 10/13/2021)
2021-12-1026STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 12/10/2021)
2021-12-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before February 10, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 13, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 12/13/2021)
2022-02-1027STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-02-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 27 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before April 12, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 10, 2022. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-04-1228STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 04/12/2022)
2022-04-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 28 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before June 10, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on April 12, 2022. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 04/12/2022)
2022-06-1029STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 06/10/2022)
2022-06-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 29 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before August 17, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on June 10, 2022. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 06/10/2022)
2022-08-1730STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
2022-08-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 30 Status Report, it is ORDERED that the defendant shall file another status report on or before October 17, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 18, 2022. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
2022-10-1731NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Erika Kirstie Oblea on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Daniel Schaefer (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-10-1732STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-10-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 32 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before December 16, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 17, 2022. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-12-1633Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 12/16/2022)
2022-12-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 33 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before March 16, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 16, 2022. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 12/16/2022)
2023-03-1634Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 03/16/2023)
2023-03-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 34 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before June 22, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 16, 2023. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 03/16/2023)
2023-03-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 6/22/2023 (zjch, ) (Entered: 03/17/2023)
2023-06-2235Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 06/22/2023)
2023-06-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 35 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before September 20, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on June 22, 2023. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 06/22/2023)
2023-06-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 9/20/2023 (zjch, ) (Entered: 06/22/2023)
2023-09-2036Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 09/20/2023)
2023-09-20MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 36 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before December 19, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 20, 2023. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 09/20/2023)
2023-09-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/19/2023. (zsmc) (Entered: 09/20/2023)
2023-12-1937Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/19/2023)
2023-12-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 37 Joint Status Report, the Court directs the parties to file another joint status report on or before March 19, 2024. So ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 19, 2023. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 12/19/2023)
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