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Case TitleSikhs for Justice Inc., SFJ v. US Department of State
DistrictSouthern District of New York
CityFoley Square
Case Number1:2015cv06969
Date Filed2015-09-03
Date Closed2016-04-13
JudgeJudge John G. Koeltl
PlaintiffSikhs for Justice, Inc., SFJ
Case DescriptionSikhs for Justice submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records about the visa issued to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was accused of allowing a massacre of Muslims to take place while he was governor of the state Gujarat. SFJ also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, SFJ filed suit.
Complaint issues: Expedited processing, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUS Department of State
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2015-09-031FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT PLEADING - SIGNATURE ERROR - COMPLAINT against US Department of State. (Filing Fee $ 400.00, Receipt Number 0208-11349947)Document filed by Sikhs for Justice "SFJ", Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Correspondence re FOIA Request)(Pourtavoosi, Babak) Modified on 9/4/2015 (dgo). (Entered: 09/03/2015)
2015-09-032FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT PLEADING - SIGNATURE ERROR - CIVIL COVER SHEET filed. (Pourtavoosi, Babak) Modified on 9/4/2015 (dgo). (Entered: 09/03/2015)
2015-09-033RULE 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. No Corporate Parent. Document filed by Sikhs for Justice "SFJ", Inc..(Pourtavoosi, Babak) (Entered: 09/03/2015)
2015-09-034REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to US Department of State, re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Sikhs for Justice "SFJ", Inc.. (Pourtavoosi, Babak) (Entered: 09/03/2015)
2015-09-04***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT CIVIL COVER SHEET. Notice to attorney Babak Pourtavoosi to RE-FILE Document No. 2 Civil Cover Sheet. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): No signature;. Re-file the document using the event type Civil Cover Sheet found under the event list Other Documents and attach the correct PDF. Use civil cover sheet issued by S.D.N.Y. dated April 2014. The S.D.N.Y. Civil Cover Sheet dated April 2014 is located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/file/forms/civil-cover-sheet.. (dgo) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT PLEADING. Notice to Attorney Babak Pourtavoosi to RE-FILE Document No. 1 Complaint,. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): the pleading was not signed;. Re-file the pleading using the event type Complaint found under the event list Complaints and Other Initiating Documents - attach the correct signed PDF - select the individually named filer/filers - select the individually named party/parties the pleading is against. (dgo) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge John G. Koeltl. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/District . Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf_filing.php . (dgo) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04Magistrate Judge Debra C. Freeman is so designated. (dgo) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-04Case Designated ECF. (dgo) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-045ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to US Department of State, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (dgo) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-046CIVIL COVER SHEET filed. (Pourtavoosi, Babak) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-047COMPLAINT against US Department of State. Document filed by Sikhs for Justice, Inc., SFJ. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Correspondence re FOIA Request)(Pourtavoosi, Babak) (Entered: 09/04/2015)
2015-09-298NOTICE OF COURT CONFERENCE: You are directed to appear for a pretrial conference, to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, in Courtroom 12B, at 4:30pm in front of the Honorable John G. Koeltl. All requests for adjournments must be made in writing to the Court. For any further information, please contact the Court at (212) 805-0107. Don Fletcher, Courtroom Case Manager. (Pretrial Conference set for 11/3/2015 at 04:30 PM in Courtroom 12B, U.S. Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Judge John G. Koeltl. (rjm) (Entered: 09/30/2015)
2015-09-309NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Rebecca Sol Tinio on behalf of US Department of State. (Tinio, Rebecca) (Entered: 09/30/2015)
2015-10-0610LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time to Answer or Otherwise Respond to the Complaint addressed to Judge John G. Koeltl from Rebecca S. Tinio dated October 6, 2015. Document filed by US Department of State.(Tinio, Rebecca) (Entered: 10/06/2015)
2015-10-0711ORDER granting 10 Letter Motion for Extension of Time. APPLICATION GRANTED. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge John G. Koeltl on 10/7/2015) (ajs) (Entered: 10/07/2015)
2015-10-07Set/Reset Deadlines: US Department of State answer due 11/10/2015. (ajs) (Entered: 10/07/2015)
2015-11-1012ANSWER to 7 Complaint. Document filed by US Department of State.(Tinio, Rebecca) (Entered: 11/10/2015)
2015-11-2013NOTICE OF COURT CONFERENCE: You are directed to appear for a pretrial conference, to be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, in Courtroom 12B, at 4:30pm in front of the Honorable John G. Koeltl. All requests for adjournments must be made in writing to the Court. Pretrial Conference set for 12/9/2015 at 04:30 PM in Courtroom 12B, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Judge John G. Koeltl. (mro) (Entered: 11/23/2015)
2015-12-09Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge John G. Koeltl: Initial Pretrial Conference held on 12/9/2015. (Fletcher, Donnie) (Entered: 01/11/2016)
2015-12-1014ORDER: The Department of State will make an initial production of discovery in mid-January 2016, followed by another production of discovery in mid-February 2016. The next conference in this case will take place on February 29, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. ( Status Conference set for 2/29/2016 at 04:30 PM before Judge John G. Koeltl.) (Signed by Judge John G. Koeltl on 12/9/2015) (cf) (Entered: 12/10/2015)
2016-02-29Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge John G. Koeltl: Status Conference held on 2/29/2016. (Fletcher, Donnie) (Entered: 03/09/2016)
2016-03-0115ORDER. The next conference in this case will take place on April 15, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. So ordered. (Conference set for 4/15/2016 at 04:30 PM before Judge John G. Koeltl.) (Signed by Judge John G. Koeltl on 2/29/2016) (rjm) (Entered: 03/01/2016)
2016-04-1316LETTER addressed to Judge John G. Koeltl from Rebecca S. Tinio dated April 13, 2016 re: Status Report and Stipulation of Voluntary Dismissal. Document filed by US Department of State.(Tinio, Rebecca) (Entered: 04/13/2016)
2016-04-1317STIPULATION OF VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between the parties and/or their respective counsel(s) that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed, Without prejudice against the defendant(s) US Department of State and Without costs to either party pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Document filed by US Department of State.(Tinio, Rebecca) (Entered: 04/13/2016)
2016-04-1518ORDER OF DISCONTINUANCE. It having been reported to this Court that the parties have settled this action, It is, on this 14th day of April, 2016, hereby ordered that this matter be discontinued with prejudice but without costs; provided, however, that within 30 days of the date of this order, counsel for the plaintiff may apply by letter for restoration of the action to the calendar of the undersigned, in which event the action will be restored. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge John G. Koeltl on 4/14/2016) (rjm) (Entered: 04/15/2016)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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