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Case TitleDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv02283
Date Filed2020-08-19
Date Closed2021-05-24
JudgeJudge Emmet G. Sullivan
PlaintiffDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionDemocracy Forward Foundation submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of Interior. DFF's first FOIA request asked for records concerning areas protected by the Coastal Barrier Resources Act. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency told DFF that it had located 21 responsive emails and 114 responsive pages. DFF's second FOIA request asked for records on CBRA-protected areas from the Fish and Wildlife Service. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agency did not acknowledge the second request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, DFF 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
Complaint attachment 9
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-08-191COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7482825) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons)(Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 08/19/2020)
2020-08-192LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 08/19/2020)
2020-08-20Case assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (zmc) (Entered: 08/20/2020)
2020-08-203SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 08/20/2020)
2020-08-204STANDING ORDER: The parties are directed to read the attached Standing Order Governing Civil Cases Before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in its entirety upon receipt. The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives in the attached Standing Order. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 08/20/20. (Attachment: # 1 Exhibit1) (mac) (Entered: 08/20/2020)
2020-08-275RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 08/27/20., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/27/2020. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/26/2020.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 8/26/2020 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-09-256ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 09/25/2020)
2020-09-28MINUTE ORDER. Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552. The parties are directed to meet and confer and propose a joint scheduling order for further proceedings in this case by no later than October 26, 2020. The parties' joint proposed scheduling order shall address the following: (1) The status of plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) The anticipated number of documents responsive to plaintiffs FOIA request; (3) The anticipated date(s), if any, for release of documents responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request; (4) Whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case; (5) Whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case; (6) Whether this case would benefit from referral to a magistrate judge or the District Court Mediation Program for purposes of settlement; and (7) A proposed briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if applicable. If the parties are unable to agree on a joint recommendation, the joint proposed scheduling order shall include each party's individual recommendations. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 9/28/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-09-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Meet & Confer Report due by 10/26/2020. (mac) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-10-267Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 10/26/2020)
2020-10-27MINUTE ORDER. In view of 7 the parties' Joint STATUS REPORT, the parties are directed to file further joint status report by no later than December 22, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 10/27/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 10/27/2020)
2020-10-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/22/2020 (mac) (Entered: 10/28/2020)
2020-12-228Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 12/22/2020)
2020-12-23MINUTE ORDER. In view of 8 the parties' Joint STATUS REPORT, the parties are directed to file further joint status report by no later than January 22, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 12/23/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 12/23/2020)
2020-12-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/22/2021 (mac) (Entered: 12/23/2020)
2021-01-199NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Aman Tewari George on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION Substituting for attorney Travis Annatoyn (George, Aman) (Entered: 01/19/2021)
2021-01-2210Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 01/22/2021)
2021-02-05MINUTE ORDER. In view of 10 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than March 23, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 2/5/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 02/05/2021)
2021-02-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/23/2021. (mac) (Entered: 02/06/2021)
2021-03-2311Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 03/23/2021)
2021-03-23MINUTE ORDER. In view of 11 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than May 3, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 3/23/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 03/23/2021)
2021-03-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/3/2021. (mac) (Entered: 03/24/2021)
2021-05-0312Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 05/03/2021)
2021-05-11MINUTE ORDER. In view of 12 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report by no later than June 3, 2021, unless the parties file a stipulation of dismissal before that date. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 5/11/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 05/11/2021)
2021-05-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/3/2021. (mac) (Entered: 05/12/2021)
2021-05-2413STIPULATION of Dismissal by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (George, Aman) (Entered: 05/24/2021)
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