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Case TitleCENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv02665
Date Filed2020-09-21
Date Closed2021-08-20
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffCENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Case DescriptionThe Center for Biological Diversity submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Interior for records concerning the withdrawal of a 2014 decision by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discontinue the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, CBD filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-09-211COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7614637) filed by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Interior, # 3 Summons US AG, # 4 Summons US Atty DC, # 5 Declaration Corporate Disclosure)(Snape, William) (Entered: 09/21/2020)
2020-09-22Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmd) (Entered: 09/22/2020)
2020-09-222SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent) (zmd) (Entered: 09/22/2020)
2020-09-223STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 22, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 09/22/2020)
2020-09-234MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Lalli Venkatakrishnan, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-7629291. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Snape, William) (Entered: 09/23/2020)
2020-09-24MINUTE ORDER. The Court having considered Plaintiff's 4 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Lalli Venkatakrishnan, and it appearing to the Court that the attorney referenced therein meets the requirements for pro hac vice admission under Local Civil Rule 83.2(d), it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that Lalli Venkatakrishnan is ADMITTED to practice before the Court pro hac vice . Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions . Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 24, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 09/24/2020)
2020-10-095RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/1/2020. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/31/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Mail Receipts)(Snape, William) (Entered: 10/09/2020)
2020-11-026ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.(Moustakas, John) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2020-11-03MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. According to Local Civil Rule 16.3, the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) are inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before November 24, 2020. The Joint Status Report shall address: (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); (5) the possibility of prioritizing documents responsive to Plaintiff's request and any discussions regarding whether Plaintiff's request can be narrowed; and (6) whether the Parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 3, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2020-11-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/24/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 11/04/2020)
2020-11-247Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Snape, William) (Entered: 11/24/2020)
2020-11-24MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 7 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by January 23, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 24, 2020. (lccjn2) (Entered: 11/24/2020)
2020-11-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/23/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 11/25/2020)
2021-01-268Joint STATUS REPORT w/Defendant by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Snape, William) (Entered: 01/26/2021)
2021-01-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by March 1, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 28, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 01/28/2021)
2021-01-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/1/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 01/28/2021)
2021-03-019Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Snape, William) (Entered: 03/01/2021)
2021-03-08MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by April 15, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 8, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 03/08/2021)
2021-03-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/15/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 03/08/2021)
2021-04-1510Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Moustakas, John) (Entered: 04/15/2021)
2021-04-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by June 1, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on April 22, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
2021-04-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/1/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 04/23/2021)
2021-05-3111Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Moustakas, John) (Entered: 05/31/2021)
2021-06-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by August 2, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 7, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 06/07/2021)
2021-06-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/2/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 06/08/2021)
2021-08-0212Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Moustakas, John) (Entered: 08/02/2021)
2021-08-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report by October 1, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 12, 2021. (lccjn2) (Entered: 08/12/2021)
2021-08-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/1/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 08/19/2021)
2021-08-1913STIPULATION of Dismissal by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Moustakas, John) (Entered: 08/19/2021)
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