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Case TitleREPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv02125
Date Filed2019-07-17
Date Closed2020-02-27
JudgeJudge Reggie B. Walton
PlaintiffREPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Case DescriptionThe Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning a meeting on international religious freedom in which Secretary Mike Pompeo participated. The Reporters Committee also asked for inclusion in the news media fee category. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the Reporters Committee filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, 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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-07-171COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6259911) filed by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons for Defendant, # 6 Summons for U.S. Attorney, # 7 Summons for U.S. Attorney General)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Attachment 4 replaced on 7/18/2019) (zeg). (Entered: 07/17/2019)
2019-07-18Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (zeg) (Entered: 07/18/2019)
2019-07-182SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zeg) (Entered: 07/18/2019)
2019-07-293RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/23/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/22/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 7/23/2019, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/23/2019. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Main Document 3 replaced on 8/1/2019) (znmw). (Entered: 07/29/2019)
2019-08-164RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 8/9/2019 (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Main Document 4 replaced on 8/19/2019) (ztd). Modified replace fillable document on 8/19/2019 (ztd). (Entered: 08/16/2019)
2019-08-225NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Evan Kahn on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Kahn, Matthew) (Entered: 08/22/2019)
2019-08-226ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Kahn, Matthew) (Entered: 08/22/2019)
2019-08-23MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by 14 days from the order. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 08/23/2019. (lccrc3) (Entered: 08/23/2019)
2019-08-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 9/6/2019 (lsj) (Entered: 08/23/2019)
2019-08-287Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Kahn, Matthew) (Entered: 08/28/2019)
2019-09-03MINUTE ORDER: In light of 7 the parties' joint status report, the parties shall file a further joint status report by October 14, 2019 proposing a further schedule for production and, if applicable, briefing. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 09/03/2019. (lccrc3) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
2019-09-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/14/2019 (lsj) (Entered: 09/04/2019)
2019-10-158NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Jeremy S. Simon on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Matthew Evan Kahn (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 10/15/2019)
2019-10-159Joint STATUS REPORT by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 10/15/2019)
2019-10-16MINUTE ORDER: In light of 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant shall complete production, including the preparation of a Vaughn index, on or before January 15, 2020. It is further ORDERED that Defendant shall make rolling productions every 30 days, beginning November 15, 2019. The parties are directed to submit Joint Status Reports on November 25, 2019 and on January 25, 2020. The January 25th Report shall include a summary judgment briefing schedule, if necessary. So Ordered. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/16/2019. (lccrc3) (Entered: 10/16/2019)
2019-10-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/25/2019. Joint Status Report and Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 1/25/2020. (lsj) (Entered: 10/16/2019)
2019-11-2410Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 11/24/2019)
2019-11-26MINUTE ORDER: In light of 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties file a further Joint Status Report on or before January 25, 2020, which shall include a summary judgment briefing schedule, if necessary. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/26/2019. (lccrc3) (Entered: 11/26/2019)
2019-11-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/25/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 11/26/2019)
2020-01-1511Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Production and Provide Draft Vaughn Index by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-01-16MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 11 Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant shall complete its production and provide a draft Vaughn Index to Plaintiff by January 17, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 01/16/2020. (lccrc3) (Entered: 01/16/2020)
2020-01-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Draft Vaughn Index due by 1/17/2020. (nbn) (Entered: 01/16/2020)
2020-01-2412Joint STATUS REPORT by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 01/24/2020)
2020-01-27MINUTE ORDER: In light of 12 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report on or before March 3, 2020, which shall include a proposed briefing schedule if necessary. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 01/27/2020. (lccrc3) (Entered: 01/27/2020)
2020-02-1113NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. Case related to Case No. 19-1344. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 02/11/2020)
2020-02-2414Unopposed MOTION to Transfer Case as Related by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 02/24/2020)
2020-02-26MINUTE ORDER granting 14 Motion to Transfer Case as related. The case is hereby TRANSFERRED to the docket of Hon. Reggie B. Walton, before whom is the related, earlier-filed case, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. U.S. Department of State , No. 19-cv-1344 (RBW). Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 02/26/2020. (lccrc3) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-2615Case directly reassigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton as related. Judge Christopher R. Cooper is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-2616Unopposed MOTION to Consolidate Cases by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-2717ORDER. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 27, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 02/27/2020)
2020-02-27Case Consolidated. Case 19-2125 has been consolidated with case 19-1344, pursuant to an Order entered 2/27/2020. From this date forward, all pleadings shall be filed ONLY in the lead/earlier case, Civil Action No. 19-1344. The parties are advised NOT to elect the SPREAD TEXT option when filing in ECF, as this will result in repetitive docketing and emails. (ztth) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
2020-03-0418NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Jane M. Lyons on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Jeremy S. Simon (Lyons, Jane) (Entered: 03/04/2020)
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