Case Detail

FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Richard Leon has ruled that the FBI conducted an adequate search for records concerning the agency's alleged practice of impersonating journalists and found the agency properly invoked a number of exemptions in withholding records. The Reporters Committee and the Associated Press requested the records from the FBI. Because of the specificity of the incident, which involved an anonymous bomb threat at Timberline High School near Seattle, the agency decided not to search its Central Records System, but instead searched its Operational Technology Division. However, the agency ultimately conducted a search of the CRS as well. The plaintiffs argued that based on other publicly available information the agency should have uncovered other responsive records. Leon disagreed, noting that "plaintiffs face an uphill climb in this regard. I have reviewed the information identified by plaintiffs for 'positive indications of overlooked materials.' Nothing in these materials persuades me that plaintiffs' arguments are any more than 'mere speculation that as yet uncovered documents may exist.' Accordingly I conclude the FBI has carried its burden to show that its search was adequate." Approving the withholding of an email under Exemption 5 (privileges), Leon noted that "the unredacted portions of the email messages, submitted by plaintiffs, show that agency personnel were discussing changes to, and legal review of, an application for a search warrant before submitting it to a court. Such information is both pre-decisional and privileged." As to redactions of identifying information about agents, Leon noted that under Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records), courts had recognized a strong privacy interest in not being unwarrantedly associated with a criminal investigation. He observed that "the FBI has invoked that weighty interest here and plaintiffs offer little to counterbalance it."
Issues: Exemption 5 - Privileges, Adequacy - Search, Exemption 7(C) - Invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records

FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Richard Leon has ruled that the FBI properly withheld records under Exemption 5 (privileges), Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy), Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records), and Exemption 7(E) (investigative methods and techniques) in response to FOIA requests from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press concerning the FBI's policies for impersonating journalists. RCFP's requests were prompted by a 2007 incident at Timberline High School near Seattle when the FBI tricked the anonymous sender of an online bomb threat to reveal his online address by responding to a fake email from the FBI impersonating an AP reporter. In response to RCFP's requests, the FBI located 267 pages and disclosed 186 pages in full or in part. When RCFP filed suit, Leon ruled in favor of the agency, finding that its search was adequate as well. RCFP appealed, and the D.C. Circuit ruled that because the FBI's Director's Office was intimately involved in the agency's response to publicity related to the incident it should have been searched as well. While RCFP's appeal to the D.C. Circuit was pending, it submitted another FOIA request, updating the time frame for its first request and including new categories for records concerning a 2016 report by the Office of the Inspector General. RCFP sued after the agency failed to respond to the 2017 request and the agency located 611 pages of responsive records and disclosed 328 pages in full or in part. The Department of Justice claimed that large portions of the litigation were prohibited by both the law of the case doctrine and the doctrine of collateral estoppel which allows a court to dismiss a case where the same parties have litigated the same issue. Leon, however, pointed out that "a valid rationale for withholding one set of documents does not necessarily apply equally to every other set of documents." Dismissing the claims, Leon indicated that "adopting defendants' position that collateral estoppel applies when the agency's rationales for withholding documents are the same, regardless of what the specific documents are, would violate our Circuit's long held requirement that agencies justify withholdings with details specific to the documents at issue." The agency's Exemption 5 claims were divided into six categories. Leon joined other D.C. Circuit district court judges in finding that "if documents are 'generated as part of a continuous process of decision making' such as 'how to respond to on-going inquiries' from the press or Congress, they are predecisional and deliberative." He agreed that the FBI had properly withheld filled-in copies of forms that FBI personnel used to submit comments on the OIG draft report. He noted that "any factual comments are so intrinsically linked to the FBI's personnel's recommendations and opinions regarding the OIG draft report that disclosure could expose the deliberative process." Leon also allowed the agency to withhold discussions on how to use an investigative technique. While he found that the FBI had provided sufficient detail to adequately explain the foreseeable harm in disclosure of the six categories, Leon indicated that "I would, however, join the chorus of members of this court in rejecting the Government's position that general assertions of harm to the deliberative process privilege are sufficient to satisfy the 'heightened standard' of the FOIA Improvement Act's 'foreseeable harm' requirement. They are not. The Government would be wise in the future to heed such rulings." Leon approved of the agency's use of the privacy exemptions to withhold third-party personally identifying information, observing that "plaintiffs have failed to show how the release of any of these names or identifying information will help the public determine whether FBI officials engaged in illegal or unconstitutional activity by impersonating journalists." RCFP challenged the agency's use of Exemption 7(E) by arguing that impersonating a journalist was a publicly known technique. But Leon noted that "the fact that a law enforcement technique is generally known does not mean its specific procedures or applications are known or that disclosing them would not risk compromising specific investigations." On the agency's withholding of 10 pages of records on an undercover operation, Leon observed that he was satisfied that "the FBI's procedures relate to techniques and methods for surreptitiously investigating potential criminals and engaging in undercover operations."
Issues: Exemption 7(C) - Invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records, Exemption 5 - Privileges - Deliberative process privilege - Deliberative, Exemption 5 - Privileges - Deliberative process privilege - Predecisional, Exemption 7(E) - Unknown to public

FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Richard Leon has resolved the remaining issue in litigation brought by the Reporters Committee and the Associated Press for records concerning the FBI's alleged practice of impersonating journalists by ruling in the agency's favor in a dispute over whether the remaining record was protected by Exemption 5 (privileges). The original litigation resulted in two appeals to the D.C. Circuit. The remaining disputed documents pertained to redactions made in draft OIG report, for which the D.C. Circuit had found that the FBI had not yet shown disclosure would cause foreseeable harm. Siding with the FBI, Leon noted that "unfortunately for plaintiffs, I agree with defendants that the Government, through its supplemental declarations has satisfied the required foreseeable harm showing." He indicated that "the supplemental declarations' descriptions detail the context of the agency action at issue by outlining the process through which OIG conducts a review of a DOJ component and explaining how the review led to the draft (and, ultimately, the final) report on the FBI's practices and operations. And the Government's declarations demonstrate why disclosure of the draft resulting from that process would impede the agency's deliberations during that same process in the future. These are hardly the 'cookie-cutter formulations' that our Circuit Court rejected previously." Leon noted that "far from 'wholly generalized and conclusory' assertion of harm that 'merely mouth the generic rationale for the deliberative process itself,' the declarations offer an account of 'the precise damage to the relevant agency operations' â€" chilling of internal discussion during OIG investigations and preparation of reports concerning factual findings and recommendations about a component agency's practices â€" 'that would result from [the reports'] release.' This foreseeable damage to the quality of OIG's investigations by chilling internal discussion in OIG and between OIG and FBI is precisely the harm the deliberative-process privilege seeks to prevent."
Issues: Exemption 5 - Privileges - Deliberative process privilege - Deliberative

Date Filed	Doc #	Docket Text
2015-08-27	1	COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-4223752) filed by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, ASSOCIATED PRESS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 08/27/2015)
2015-08-27		Case Assigned to Judge Richard J. Leon. (sth) (Entered: 08/27/2015)
2015-08-27	2	SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(sth) (Entered: 08/27/2015)
2015-08-27	3	STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 8/27/2015. (lcrjl2, ) (Entered: 08/27/2015)
2015-09-04	4	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/2/2015. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/2/2015. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04	5	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09/02/2015. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04	6	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 9/2/2015 (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04	7	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 9/3/2015 (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-23	8	NOTICE of Appearance by Marina Utgoff Braswell on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Braswell, Marina) (Entered: 09/23/2015)
2015-10-02	9	ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Braswell, Marina) (Entered: 10/02/2015)
2015-10-28	10	NOTICE of Appearance by Bruce D. Brown on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Brown, Bruce) (Entered: 10/28/2015)
2015-11-12	11	NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew Marshall Bernie on behalf of All Defendants (Bernie, Andrew) (Entered: 11/12/2015)
2015-11-12	12	MEET AND CONFER STATEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Plaintiffs' Proposed Scheduling Order, # 2 Text of Proposed Order Defendants' Proposed Scheduling Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 11/12/2015)
2015-12-04	13	NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Attorney Marina Utgoff Braswell terminated. (Braswell, Marina) (Entered: 12/04/2015)
2016-01-07		MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that, within ten days of the date of this Order, the parties shall submit an updated proposed schedule to govern the above-captioned matter. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 1/7/2016. (lcrjl2, ) (Entered: 01/07/2016)
2016-01-15	14	Joint MOTION for Scheduling Order by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bernie, Andrew) (Entered: 01/15/2016)
2016-01-19	15	SCHEDULING ORDER : It is hereby ordered that the following schedule shall govern: Defendant's shall complete their production of all non-exempt records responsive to plaintiff's three pending FOIA request. Parties shall submit joint status report by 03/11/16. Defendant's Summary Judgment motions due by 3/28/2016. Response/Cross Motions due by 4/25/2016. Reply/Response to Cross Motions due by 5/16/2016. Reply to Cross Motions due by 5/27/2016. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 01/19/16. (ztb) (Entered: 01/20/2016)
2016-03-11	16	Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bernie, Andrew) (Entered: 03/11/2016)
2016-03-28	17	NOTICE of Appearance by Adam Alexander Marshall on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Marshall, Adam) (Entered: 03/28/2016)
2016-03-28	18	MOTION for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of David M. Hardy, # 2 Exhibit Exhibits A-F to Hardy Declaration, # 3 Exhibit Exhibits G-H to Hardy Declaration, # 4 Exhibit Exhibits I-M to Hardy Declaration, # 5 Exhibit Exhibits N-R to Hardy Declaration, # 6 Exhibit Exhibits S-T to Hardy Declaration, # 7 Exhibit Exhibits U-V to Hardy Declaration, # 8 Exhibit Exhibits W-Y to Hardy Declaration, # 9 Exhibit Exhibit Z to Hardy Declaration, # 10 Text of Proposed Order)(Bernie, Andrew) (Entered: 03/28/2016)
2016-04-25	19	MOTION for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment and in Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, # 2 Statement of Facts and Response to Defendants' Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration of Brian Barrett, # 4 Exhibit A to the Barrett Declaration, # 5 Exhibit B to the Barrett Declaration, # 6 Exhibit C to the Barrett Declaration, # 7 Exhibit D to the Barrett Declaration, # 8 Declaration of Katie Townsend, # 9 Exhibit A to the Townsend Declaration, # 10 Exhibit B to the Townsend Declaration, # 11 Exhibit C to the Townsend Declaration, # 12 Exhibit D to the Townsend Declaration, # 13 Exhibit E to the Townsend Declaration, # 14 Exhibit F to the Townsend Declaration, # 15 Exhibit G to the Townsend Declaration, # 16 Exhibit H to the Townsend Declaration, # 17 Exhibit I to the Townsend Declaration, # 18 Exhibit J to the Townsend Declaration, # 19 Exhibit K to the Townsend Declaration, # 20 Exhibit L to the Townsend Declaration, # 21 Exhibit M to the Townsend Declaration, # 22 Exhibit N to the Townsend Declaration, # 23 Exhibit O to the Townsend Declaration, # 24 Exhibit P to the Townsend Declaration, # 25 Exhibit Q to the Townsend Declaration, # 26 Exhibit R to the Townsend Declaration, # 27 Exhibit S to the Townsend Declaration, # 28 Text of Proposed Order, # 29 Certificate of Service)(Townsend, KatieLynn). Added MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment on 4/26/2016 (znmw). (Entered: 04/25/2016)
2016-04-25	20	MOTION for In Camera Review and/or Other Appropriate Relief re 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 04/25/2016)
2016-05-11	21	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Reply In Support of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bernie, Andrew) (Entered: 05/11/2016)
2016-05-16		MINUTE ORDER granting 21 Motion for an Extension of Time. It is hereby ORDERED that the consent Motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that defendants shall have up to and including May 20, 2016 to file their reply in support of defendants' motion for summary judgment and opposition to plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and/or partial summary judgment. It is further ORDERED that plaintiffs shall have up to and including June 6, 2016 to file their reply in support of plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and/or partial summary judgment. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 5/16/2016. (lcrjl2, ) (Entered: 05/16/2016)
2016-05-16		Set/Reset Deadlines: Response to Cross Motions due by 5/20/2016. Reply to Cross Motions due by 6/6/2016. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 5/20/2016. (tb) (Entered: 05/16/2016)
2016-05-20	22	Memorandum in opposition to re 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment, 20 MOTION for In Camera Review and/or Other Appropriate Relief re 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment and Reply Memorandum in Support of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Statement of Facts, # 2 Declaration Second Declaration of David M. Hardy, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit A to Declaration of David M. Hardy, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit B to Declaration of David M. Hardy, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Bernie, Andrew) (Entered: 05/20/2016)
2016-05-20	23	REPLY to opposition to motion re 18 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (See Docket Entry 22 to view document). (znmw) (Entered: 05/23/2016)
2016-05-24	24	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 05/24/2016)
2016-05-31		MINUTE ORDER granting 24 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. It is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that plaintiffs shall have up to and including June 10, 2016 to file a reply in support of their motion for summary judgment and/or partial summary judgment. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 5/31/2016. (lcrjl2, ) (Entered: 05/31/2016)
2016-06-02		Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiffs shall have up to and including June 10, 2016 to file a reply in support of their motion for summary judgment and/or partial summary judgment. (jth) (Entered: 06/02/2016)
2016-06-10	25	REPLY to opposition to motion re 20 MOTION for In Camera Review and/or Other Appropriate Relief re 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment , 19 MOTION for Summary Judgment and/or Partial Summary Judgment MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 06/10/2016)
2016-09-16	26	NOTICE REGARDING REPORT BY THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 09/16/2016)
2017-02-23	27	MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 02/22/17. (tb) (Entered: 02/23/2017)
2017-02-23	28	ORDER: For the reasons set forth in the Memorandum Opinion accompanying this Order, it is hereby ordered the defendant's 18 Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED; and it is further ordered that plaintiff's 19 Motion for Summary Judgment and or Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and 20 Motion for In Camera Review are DENIED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 02/22/17. (tb) (Entered: 02/23/2017)
2017-03-09	29	NOTICE OF APPEAL TO DC CIRCUIT COURT as to 28 Order on Motion for Summary Judgment,,,, Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief,, Order on Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. Filing fee $ 505, receipt number 0090-4870937. Fee Status: Fee Paid. Parties have been notified. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 03/09/2017)
2017-03-10	30	Transmission of the Notice of Appeal, Order Appealed, and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals fee was paid this date re 29 Notice of Appeal to DC Circuit Court,. (znmw) (Entered: 03/10/2017)
2017-03-14		USCA Case Number 17-5042 for 29 Notice of Appeal to DC Circuit Court, filed by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (zmd) (Entered: 03/14/2017)
2018-02-08	31	MANDATE of USCA as to 29 Notice of Appeal to DC Circuit Court, filed by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS ; USCA Case Number 17-5042. (Attachments: # 1 USCA Judgment)(td) (Entered: 02/23/2018)
2018-02-27	32	NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Joseph C. Dugan on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Andrew M. Bernie (Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 02/27/2018)
2018-03-09	33	MOTION to Consolidate Cases by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 03/09/2018)
2018-03-23	34	Memorandum in opposition to re 33 MOTION to Consolidate Cases filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 03/23/2018)
2018-03-30	35	REPLY to opposition to motion re 33 MOTION to Consolidate Cases filed by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 03/30/2018)
2018-07-20	36	Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 07/20/2018)
2018-08-22	37	Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 08/22/2018)
2018-09-21	38	Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 09/21/2018)
2018-10-04	39	NOTICE of Change of Address by KatieLynn Boyd Townsend (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 10/04/2018)
2018-10-12	40	NOTICE of Change of Address by Joseph C. Dugan (Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 10/12/2018)
2018-11-21	41	Joint MOTION for Briefing Schedule by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2018-11-28		MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 41 Joint Motion for Briefing Schedule, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the following schedule will govern the above-captioned case: (1) defendants' motion for summary judgment shall be due on or before December 19, 2018; (2) plaintiffs' cross-motion for summary judgment and response in opposition to defendants' motion, if any, shall be due on or before January 25, 2019; (3) defendants' response in opposition to plaintiffs' cross-motion and reply in support of defendants' motion, if any, shall be due on or before February 15, 2019; (4) plaintiffs' reply in support of their cross-motion, if any, shall be due on or before March 1, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 11/28/18. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 11/28/2018)
2018-11-28		Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendants' motion for summary judgment is due by 12/19/2018; Plaintiff's opposition and any cross-motion is due by 1/25/2019; Defendants' reply and any cross-opposition is due by 2/15/2019; Plaintiff's reply in support of its cross-motion, if any, is due by 3/1/2019. (jth) (Entered: 11/28/2018)
2018-12-12	42	Joint MOTION to Vacate Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule and to Schedule Joint Status Report by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 12/12/2018)
2018-12-19		MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' joint 42 Motion to Vacate the Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule and to Schedule a Further Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the summary judgment briefing schedule entered by Minute Order on November 28, 2018, is VACATED. The parties are DIRECTED to file a joint status report on or before January 18, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 12/19/2018. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 12/19/2018)
2018-12-19		Set/Reset Deadlines: The parties are directed to file a joint status report by 1/18/2019. (jth) (Entered: 12/27/2018)
2019-01-15	43	Consent MOTION to Stay Proceedings in Light of Lapse of Appropriations by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 01/15/2019)
2019-01-21		MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of defendants' consent 43 Motion to Stay Proceedings, it is hereby ORDERED that defendants' motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that all proceedings in this matter are STAYED pending the restoration of appropriations to the Department of Justice and that, following such restoration of appropriations, the deadline for the parties' pending joint status report shall be extended by a period commensurate with the duration of the lapse in appropriations. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 1/21/2019. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 01/21/2019)
2019-01-28	44	NOTICE of Restoration of Appropriations by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE re Order on Motion to Stay,, (Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 01/28/2019)
2019-02-11		MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press's 33 Motion to Consolidate Cases, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a) (permitting consolidation of actions "involv[ing] a common question of law or fact"). It is further ORDERED that Case Nos. 1:15-cv-1392 and 1:18-cv-345 are consolidated for all purposes. The parties are directed to make all future filings in Case No. 1:15-cv-1392, and the Clerk is directed to administratively close Case No. 1:18-cv-345. This Order does not change the parties' due date for their next joint status report, which is currently set for February 22, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 2/11/2019. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 02/11/2019)
2019-02-16		MINUTE ORDER. It is hereby ORDERED that the Stay of proceedings in this case entered by the Minute Order issued on January 21, 2019 is LIFTED and this case is returned to the Court's active docket. SO ORDERED. By Judge Richard J. Leon on 2/16/2019. (jth) (Entered: 02/16/2019)
2019-02-22	45	Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Dugan, Joseph) (Entered: 02/22/2019)
2019-02-26		MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' February 22, 2019 joint 45 Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule shall govern summary judgment briefing in this case: defendants shall file their motion for summary judgment on or before April 26, 2019; plaintiffs shall file their cross-motion for summary judgment and response in opposition to defendants' motion on or before May 31, 2019; defendants shall file their response in opposition to plaintiffs' cross-motion and reply in support of their summary judgment motion on or before June 21, 2019; and plaintiffs shall file their reply in support of their cross-motion on or before July 12, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 2/26/2019. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 02/26/2019)
2019-03-14	46	NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Vinita B. Andrapalliyal on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Joseph C. Dugan (Andrapalliyal, Vinita) (Entered: 03/14/2019)
2019-04-17	47	Joint MOTION to Vacate Briefing Schedule and to Enter New Briefing Schedule by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Andrapalliyal, Vinita) (Entered: 04/17/2019)
2019-04-23		MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' joint 47 Motion to Vacate Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule and to Propose New Briefing Schedule, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the briefing schedule set in this Court's February 26, 2019 Minute Order is VACATED and that the following schedule shall govern summary judgment briefing in this case: defendants shall file their motion for summary judgment on or before June 27, 2019; plaintiffs shall file their cross-motion for summary judgment and/or response in opposition to defendants' motion on or before July 25, 2019; defendants shall file their response in opposition to plaintiffs' cross-motion and/or reply in support of their summary judgment motion on or before August 15, 2019; and plaintiffs shall file their reply in support of their cross-motion on or before September 5, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 4/23/2019. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 04/23/2019)
2019-06-27	48	MOTION for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Exhibit (Exhibits A-L), # 4 Exhibit (Exhibit M), # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Andrapalliyal, Vinita) (Entered: 06/27/2019)
2019-07-25	49	Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment and in Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, # 2 Statement of Facts and Response to Defendants' Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration of Katie Townsend, # 4 Exhibit A to the Townsend Declaration, # 5 Exhibit B to the Townsend Declaration, # 6 Exhibit C to the Townsend Declaration, # 7 Exhibit D to the Townsend Declaration, # 8 Exhibit E to the Townsend Declaration, # 9 Exhibit F to the Townsend Declaration, # 10 Exhibit G to the Townsend Declaration, # 11 Exhibit H to the Townsend Declaration, # 12 Exhibit I to the Townsend Declaration, # 13 Exhibit J to the Townsend Declaration, # 14 Exhibit K to the Townsend Declaration, # 15 Exhibit L to the Townsend Declaration, # 16 Exhibit M to the Townsend Declaration, # 17 Exhibit N to the Townsend Declaration, # 18 Exhibit O to the Townsend Declaration, # 19 Text of Proposed Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 07/25/2019)
2019-07-25	50	Memorandum in opposition to re 48 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (See Docket Entry 49 to view document). (znmw) (Entered: 07/26/2019)
2019-08-15	51	Memorandum in opposition to re 49 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Andrapalliyal, Vinita) (Entered: 08/15/2019)
2019-08-15	52	REPLY to opposition to motion re 48 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Andrapalliyal, Vinita) (Entered: 08/15/2019)
2019-09-05	53	REPLY to opposition to motion re 49 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 09/05/2019)
2020-03-20	54	MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 03/20/2020. (jth) (Entered: 03/20/2020)
2020-03-20	55	ORDER. For the reasons set forth in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, it is hereby ORDERED that defendants' 48 Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that plaintiffs' 49 Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 03/20/2020. (jth) (Entered: 03/20/2020)
2020-04-02	56	Consent MOTION to Stay of Time to File Motion For Attorneys' Fees and Costs Pending Appeal by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 04/02/2020)
2020-04-07		MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of 56 Plaintiffs' Consent Motion for Stay of Time to File Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs Pending Appeal, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is granted. It is further ORDERED that the deadline for filling a motion relating to an award of attorneys' fees and costs shall be stayed pending the outcome of any appeal of this Court's March 20, 2020 memorandum opinion and order granting defendants' motion for summary judgment and denying plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment. It is further ORDERED that, in the event plaintiffs do not appeal, plaintiffs will file their motion for attorneys' fees and costs within 90 days of the Court's March 20, 2020 memorandum opinion and order. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 4/7/2020. (lcrjl2) (Entered: 04/07/2020)
2020-04-10	57	NOTICE OF APPEAL TO DC CIRCUIT COURT as to 55 Order on Motion for Summary Judgment,,, by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. Filing fee $ 505, receipt number ADCDC-7011101. Fee Status: Fee Paid. Parties have been notified. (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 04/10/2020)
2020-04-10	58	Transmission of the Notice of Appeal, Order Appealed (Memorandum Opinion), and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals fee was paid this date re 57 Notice of Appeal to DC Circuit Court. (jf) (Entered: 04/10/2020)
2020-04-15		USCA Case Number 20-5091 for 57 Notice of Appeal to DC Circuit Court, filed by ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (zrdj) (Entered: 04/15/2020)
2020-11-12	59	NOTICE of Correction by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Andrapalliyal, Vinita) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
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