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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv03280
Date Filed2021-12-15
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice for records concerning communications between senior officials and individuals and entities involved in supporting the attempt to overturn the presidential election results. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from either agency, American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees, Litigation - Vaughn index

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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

2021-12-151COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8931064) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons as to USAO, # 3 Summons as to AG, # 4 Summons as to DHS, # 5 Summons as to DOJ)(Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 12/15/2021)
2021-12-152LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 12/15/2021)
2021-12-20Case Assigned to Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. (zsb) (Entered: 12/20/2021)
2021-12-213SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 12/21/2021)
2021-12-224STANDING ORDER. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on December 22, 2021. (lcbah3) (Entered: 12/22/2021)
2022-01-035NOTICE of Appearance by Mehreen A Rasheed on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 01/03/2022)
2022-01-036SUMMONS (1) Issued Electronically as to U.S. Attorney (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 01/03/2022)
2022-01-117AMENDED COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Redline Comparison)(Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 01/11/2022)
2022-01-218RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 12/28/2021; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 1/4/2022, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 01/18/2022., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 1/21/2022. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 2/20/2022.) (Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-02-149ANSWER to 7 Amended Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 02/14/2022)
2022-02-2810Joint STATUS REPORT. (Reeves, Clifford) Modified docket event/text on 3/3/2022 (zeg). (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-02-28MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by April 28, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on February 28, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-03-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/28/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 03/01/2022)
2022-04-2811Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-04-29MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by June 28, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 29, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-04-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/28/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-06-2812Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 06/28/2022)
2022-06-28MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by September 26, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 28, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 06/28/2022)
2022-06-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/26/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 06/29/2022)
2022-09-2613Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 09/26/2022)
2022-09-26MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by November 25, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 26, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 09/26/2022)
2022-09-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/25/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 09/27/2022)
2022-11-2314Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 11/23/2022)
2022-11-28MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by January 24, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 28, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 11/28/2022)
2022-11-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/24/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 11/29/2022)
2022-11-3015Unopposed MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Benjamin Andrew Sparks, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-9701967. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Benjamin A. Sparks, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 11/30/2022)
2022-12-01MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING plaintiff's 15 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice . Mr. Sparks may enter an appearance pro hac vice for the purpose of representing AMERICAN OVERSIGHT in this action. 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 Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on December 1, 2022. (lcbah3) (Entered: 12/01/2022)
2022-12-1916NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin A. Sparks on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Sparks, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/19/2022)
2023-01-2417Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 01/24/2023)
2023-01-24MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by April 24, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 24, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 01/24/2023)
2023-01-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/24/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 01/25/2023)
2023-04-2418Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-04-24MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by June 26, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 24, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-04-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/26/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-06-2619Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-26MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, the parties to file, by August 31, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 26, 2023. (lcbah3) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/31/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 06/27/2023)
2023-08-3120Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 08/31/2023)
2023-08-31MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, the parties to file another joint status report by October 31, 2023, advising the Court of the status of this matter and whether any disputes remain between the parties and, if so, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 31, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/31/2023)
2023-08-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 10/31/2023 (mac) (Entered: 08/31/2023)
2023-10-3121Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 10/31/2023)
2023-10-31MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 21 Joint Status Report, to file, by January 5, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 31, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 10/31/2023)
2023-11-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/5/2024. (mac) (Entered: 11/01/2023)
2024-01-0522Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 01/05/2024)
2024-01-05MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 22 Joint Status Report, to file, by March 5, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 5, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 01/05/2024)
2024-01-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 3/5/2024 (mac) (Entered: 01/08/2024)
2024-02-0523NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Mehreen A Rasheed terminated. (Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
2024-03-0124Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Reeves, Clifford) (Entered: 03/01/2024)
2024-03-01MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 24 Joint Status Report, to file, by April 16, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 1, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 03/01/2024)
2024-03-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 4/16/2024. (mac) (Entered: 03/04/2024)
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