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Case TitlePROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv00506
Date Filed2018-03-05
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffPROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT, INC.
Case DescriptionThe Protect Democracy Project submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning contacts between DOJ and the White House pertaining to the Disney-21st Century Fox proposed merger. PDP also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The Office of Information Policy told PDP that due to unusual circumstances it could not process the request within the statutory time limit. The request also went to the Anti-Trust Division, which did not acknowledge the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, PDP filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20530
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-03-051COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5359189) filed by PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Summons to the Defendant, # 5 Summons to the Attorney General, # 6 Summons to the U.S. Attorney, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet)(Florence, Justin) (Entered: 03/05/2018)
2018-03-052LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT, INC. (Florence, Justin) (Entered: 03/05/2018)
2018-03-05Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zmd) (Entered: 03/08/2018)
2018-03-123SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons 2nd, # 2 Summons 3rd, # 3 Notice and Consent) (zmd) (Entered: 03/12/2018)
2018-04-054RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/26/2018. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/25/2018. (Florence, Justin) (Entered: 04/05/2018)
2018-04-055RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 03/26/2018. (Florence, Justin) (Entered: 04/05/2018)
2018-04-056RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 3/26/2016 (Florence, Justin) (Entered: 04/05/2018)
2018-04-247ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 04/24/2018)
2018-04-268ORDER. Both a Complaint and an Answer are now before the court in this FOIA case. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before May 8, 2018. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/26/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 04/26/2018)
2018-04-26Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 5/8/2018. (zcdw) (Entered: 04/26/2018)
2018-05-089Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File the Parties' Joint Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 05/08/2018)
2018-05-09MINUTE ORDER granting 9 Consent Motion for Extension of Time. The parties shall file the Joint Status Report no later than May 11, 2018. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/09/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 05/09/2018)
2018-05-09Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 5/11/2018. (zcdw) (Entered: 05/11/2018)
2018-05-1110Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 05/11/2018)
2018-05-14MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit a further Joint Status Report on or before September 7, 2018. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/14/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 05/14/2018)
2018-05-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/7/2018. (zjd) (Entered: 05/15/2018)
2018-09-0711Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 09/07/2018)
2018-09-10MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit a further Joint Status Report on or before October 9, 2018. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 09/10/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 09/10/2018)
2018-09-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/9/2018. (zjd) (Entered: 09/12/2018)
2018-10-0912Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 10/09/2018)
2018-10-11MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report no later than November 9, 2018, regarding Defendant's search for and production of responsive material. The parties shall propose a summary judgment briefing schedule, if appropriate. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/11/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 10/11/2018)
2018-10-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/9/2018. (zjd) (Entered: 10/11/2018)
2018-11-0913Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 11/09/2018)
2018-11-13MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 13 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report. The Joint Status Report shall be due on or before November 14, 2018. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 11/13/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 11/13/2018)
2018-11-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/14/2018. (zjd) (Entered: 11/14/2018)
2018-11-1414Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 11/14/2018)
2018-11-15MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file a Joint Status Report no later than December 20, 2018, updating the court on whether a dispute remains regarding attorney's fees and, if so, proposing a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 11/15/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 11/15/2018)
2018-11-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/20/2018. (zjd) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2018-12-2015Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 12/20/2018)
2018-12-21MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report no later than January 17, 2019, updating the court on whether there remains a dispute over attorney's fees. If so, the parties shall propose a briefing schedule to resolve that issue. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/21/2018. (lcapm3) (Entered: 12/21/2018)
2018-12-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/17/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 12/21/2018)
2019-01-29MINUTE ORDER. The parties Joint Status Report that was due on January 17, 2019, is now due on February 12, 2019. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta. (lcapm3) (Entered: 01/29/2019)
2019-01-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/12/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 02/01/2019)
2019-02-1216Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 02/12/2019)
2019-02-14MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall advise the court no later than March 12, 2019, whether they have resolved the fees issue. Unless resolved, the parties shall propose a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 02/14/2019. (lcapm3) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-02-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/12/2019. (zjd) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-03-1217STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Haynes, Fred) (Entered: 03/12/2019)
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