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Case TitleWESTERN VALUES PROJECT v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv02138
Date Filed2019-07-18
Date Closed2021-03-04
JudgeJudge Randolph D. Moss
PlaintiffWESTERN VALUES PROJECT
Case DescriptionWestern Values Project submitted three FOIA requests to the Department of the Interior for records concerning correspondence. All of its requests were subject to the Awareness policy allowing agency officials to review responses to FOIA requests before release. Western Values Project also requested a fee waiver for its requests. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Western Values Project filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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

2019-07-181COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6263079) filed by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Supplement Certificate Rule LCvR 26.1, # 3 Summons US Dept of Interior Summons, # 4 Summons US Attorney General Summons, # 5 Summons US Attorney for DC Summons, # 6 Exhibit A, # 7 Exhibit B, # 8 Exhibit C)(Massey, Jonathan) (Entered: 07/18/2019)
2019-07-192ERRATA by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT 1 Complaint, filed by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT. (Attachments: # 1 Errata)(Massey, Jonathan) (Entered: 07/19/2019)
2019-07-193LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by WESTERN VALUES PROJECT (Massey, Jonathan) (Entered: 07/19/2019)
2019-07-22Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (zeg) (Entered: 07/22/2019)
2019-07-224SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zeg) (Entered: 07/22/2019)
2019-07-225STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/22/2019. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 07/22/2019)
2019-08-066RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 7/29/2019, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/30/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/30/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/29/2019.) (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Affidavit)(Massey, Jonathan) (Entered: 08/06/2019)
2019-08-077NOTICE of Appearance by Paul Cirino on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 08/07/2019)
2019-08-088NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew M. Collette on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Collette, Matthew) (Entered: 08/08/2019)
2019-08-099Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 08/09/2019)
2019-08-09MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's consent motion for extension of time 9 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond on or before September 19, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 8/9/2019. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 08/09/2019)
2019-08-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 9/19/2019. (kt) (Entered: 08/12/2019)
2019-09-1910ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 09/19/2019)
2019-09-23MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to appear for an Initial Scheduling Conference on October 10, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. in Courtroom 21. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall confer in advance of the Initial Scheduling Conference on (1) whether any records can be released, and (2) the proper next steps in this litigation. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 09/23/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 09/23/2019)
2019-09-23Set/Reset Hearings: Initial Scheduling Conference set for 10/10/2019, at 3:00 PM, in Courtroom 21, before Judge Randolph D. Moss. (kt) (Entered: 09/23/2019)
2019-10-10Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Randolph D. Moss: Initial Scheduling Conference held on 10/10/2019. BLM shall endeavor to produce the responsive records on or before 11/8/2019, and shall do so by 11/30/2019; The Office of the Secretary shall process records at a rate of 500 pages a month beginning on 11/15/2019; Joint Status Report due by 11/30/2019. (Court Reporter: Jeff Hook.) (kt) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-12-0211Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2019-12-02MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 11 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before January 31, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/2/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2020-01-3112Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 01/31/2020)
2020-02-03MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 12 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before March 31, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 2/3/20. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 02/03/2020)
2020-03-3113Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 03/31/2020)
2020-05-2914Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-06-04MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before July 28, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/4/20. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 06/04/2020)
2020-07-2815Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
2020-08-13MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report 15 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before September 28, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 08/13/2020. (lcrdm3) (Entered: 08/13/2020)
2020-08-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/28/2020. (kt) (Entered: 08/13/2020)
2020-09-2816Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-09-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report, Dkt. 16 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before December 4, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 09/29/2020. (lcrdm3) (Entered: 09/29/2020)
2020-12-0417Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
2020-12-08MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report, Dkt. 17 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before February 2, 2021. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/8/2020. (lcrdm3) (Entered: 12/08/2020)
2021-02-0218Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 02/02/2021)
2021-02-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report, Dkt. 18 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before March 4, 2021. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 2/2/2021. (lcrdm3) (Entered: 02/02/2021)
2021-03-0419STIPULATION of Dismissal by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
2021-03-04MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Stipulation of Dismissal, Dkt. 19 , it is hereby ORDERED that this case is dismissed with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a). The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the case. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/4/2021. (lcrdm3) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
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