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Case TitleENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND v. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv01116
Date Filed2018-05-10
Date Closed2020-05-29
JudgeJudge Rudolph Contreras
PlaintiffENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Case DescriptionThe Environmental Defense Fund submitted FOIA requests to the Department of the Interior for records concerning the Waste Prevention Rule. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the Environmental Defense Fund filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DefendantBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
DefendantOFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DefendantOFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE 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

2018-05-101COMPLAINT against ALL DEFENDANTS ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5474808) filed by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Attachments to Complaint, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons For Department of Justice, # 4 Summons For U.S. Attorney, # 5 Summons For Department of the Interior)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/10/2018)
2018-05-102Corporate Disclosure Statement by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/10/2018)
2018-05-103MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Aladdine Joroff, :Firm- Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, Harvard Law School, :Address- 6 Everett St., Ste. 4119, Cambridge, MA 02138. Phone No. - 617-495-5014. Fax No. - 617-384-7633 Filing fee $ 100, receipt number 0090-5475071. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND (Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/10/2018)
2018-05-10Case Assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras. (zmd) (Entered: 05/11/2018)
2018-05-144SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent) (zmd) (Entered: 05/14/2018)
2018-06-15ORDER granting 3 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.2(d), it is hereby ORDERED that Aladdine Joroff is admitted to represent Plaintiff pro hac vice in this case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on June 15, 2018. (lcrc3) (Entered: 06/15/2018)
2018-08-015RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/2/2018. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/1/2018. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 08/01/2018)
2018-08-016RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 7/2/2018. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 08/01/2018)
2018-08-017RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 6/29/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 08/01/2018)
2018-08-018Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 08/01/2018)
2018-08-01MINUTE ORDER granting 8 Defendants' Consent Motion for Extension of Time: It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall have until and including August 6, 2018 to respond to the complaint. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on August 1, 2018. (lcrc3) (Entered: 08/01/2018)
2018-08-069ANSWER to Complaint and Affirmative Defenses by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Seabrook, April) (Entered: 08/06/2018)
2018-08-06MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and submit a proposed briefing schedule on or before August 20, 2018. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on August 6, 2018. (lcrc3) (Entered: 08/06/2018)
2018-08-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 8/20/2018 (hs) (Entered: 08/07/2018)
2018-08-1710Joint STATUS REPORT by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 08/17/2018)
2018-08-1711NOTICE of Appearance by Jeremy S. Simon on behalf of BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 08/17/2018)
2018-08-17MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 10 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before September 14, 2018. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on August 17, 2018. (lcrc3) (Entered: 08/17/2018)
2018-08-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 9/14/2018 (tj) (Entered: 08/21/2018)
2018-09-1412Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 09/14/2018)
2018-09-14MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 12 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before October 23, 2018. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on September 14, 2018. (lcrc3) (Entered: 09/14/2018)
2018-09-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 10/23/2018 (tj) (Entered: 09/25/2018)
2018-10-2313Joint STATUS REPORT and Proposed Schedule by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Seabrook, April) (Entered: 10/23/2018)
2018-10-23MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 13 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before November 28, 2018. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on October 23, 2018. (lcrc3) (Entered: 10/23/2018)
2018-11-0914NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Attorney Jeremy S. Simon terminated. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 11/09/2018)
2018-11-2815Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/28/2018)
2018-11-28MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 15 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before January 18, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on November 28, 2018. (lcrc3) (Entered: 11/28/2018)
2018-11-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 1/18/2019 (tj) (Entered: 11/30/2018)
2019-01-1816Unopposed MOTION to Stay , Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to All Deadlines by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Pfaffenroth, Peter) (Entered: 01/18/2019)
2019-01-24MINUTE ORDER granting 16 Defendants' Unopposed Motion to Stay. It is hereby ORDERED that this action is stayed until appropriations are restored to the Department of Justice. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the joint status report previously due on January 18, 2019 shall be filed within 14 days of Congress restoring appropriations. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on January 24, 2019. (lcrc3) (Entered: 01/24/2019)
2019-02-0617NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Patrick Schaefer on behalf of All Defendants (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 02/06/2019)
2019-02-0718Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 02/07/2019)
2019-02-08MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 18 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before March 25, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on February 8, 2019. (lcrc3) (Entered: 02/08/2019)
2019-02-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 3/25/2019 (tj) (Entered: 02/08/2019)
2019-03-1819NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Attorney Daniel Patrick Schaefer terminated. (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 03/18/2019)
2019-03-2520Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 03/25/2019)
2019-03-25MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 20 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before May 29, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on March 25, 2019. (lcrc3) (Entered: 03/25/2019)
2019-04-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 5/29/2019 (tj) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-05-2921Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/29/2019)
2019-05-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 21 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further joint status report including a proposed schedule for any issues that may remain in the litigation at that point, as appropriate, on or before July 31, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on May 29, 2019. (lcrc3) (Entered: 05/29/2019)
2019-05-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/31/2019 (hs) (Entered: 05/30/2019)
2019-07-3122Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 07/31/2019)
2019-07-31MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 22 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall provide a further status report, including a proposed schedule for any issues that may remain in the litigation at that point, by October 1, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on July 31, 2019. (lcrc3) (Entered: 07/31/2019)
2019-08-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 10/1/2019 (tj) (Entered: 08/01/2019)
2019-10-0123Joint STATUS REPORT by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Seabrook, April) (Entered: 10/01/2019)
2019-10-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 23 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall provide a further status report including a proposed schedule for any issues that may remain in the litigation at that point, as appropriate, on or before December 6, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on October 2, 2019. (lcrc3) (Entered: 10/02/2019)
2019-10-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/6/2019 (tj) (Entered: 10/02/2019)
2019-12-0424Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/04/2019)
2019-12-04MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 24 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall jointly submit a further status report, including a proposed schedule for any issues that may remain in the litigation at that point, as appropriate, by March 31, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on December 4, 2019. (lcrc3) (Entered: 12/04/2019)
2019-12-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 3/31/2020 (tj) (Entered: 12/23/2019)
2020-03-3125Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 03/31/2020)
2020-04-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 25 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report, including a proposed schedule for any issues that may remain in the litigation at that point, as appropriate, by May 29, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on April 1, 2020. (lcrc3) (Entered: 04/01/2020)
2020-04-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 5/29/2020 (tj) (Entered: 04/01/2020)
2020-04-0126NOTICE of Appearance by Benton Gregory Peterson on behalf of All Defendants (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 04/01/2020)
2020-05-2927STIPULATION of Dismissal by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levitan, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-05-2928ORDER OF DISMISSAL: See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 05/29/2020. (lcrc3) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
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