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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv01344
Date Filed2018-06-06
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Ketanji Brown Jackson
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning the use of the hashtag #Catch of the Day and other similar hashtags. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-06-061COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5520214) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 06/06/2018)
2018-06-062NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Case related to Case No. 18-cv-1337. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 06/06/2018)
2018-06-063LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 06/06/2018)
2018-06-06Case Assigned to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. (zmd) (Entered: 06/08/2018)
2018-06-084SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent) (zmd) (Entered: 06/08/2018)
2018-07-025RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 6/18/2018, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 6/18/2018., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/11/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/11/2018.) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 07/02/2018)
2018-07-106Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Seabrook, April) (Entered: 07/10/2018)
2018-07-117NOTICE by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT re 6 Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C, # 5 Exhibit D)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 07/11/2018)
2018-07-118RESPONSE re 6 Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (See Docket Entry 7 to view document) (jf) (Entered: 07/11/2018)
2018-07-11MINUTE ORDER granting, for good cause shown, 6 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. IT is hereby ORDERED that Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint on or before 8/10/2018. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 07/11/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 07/11/2018)
2018-08-109ANSWER to Complaint and Affirmative Defenses by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Seabrook, April) (Entered: 08/10/2018)
2018-09-0410GENERAL ORDER AND GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO FOIA CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON. The Court will hold the parties and counsel responsible for following these directives, and parties and counsel should pay particular attention to the Courts instructions for processing and production of records, batching motions, and filing exhibits. Failure to adhere to this Order may, when appropriate, result the imposition of sanctions and/or sua sponte denial of non-conforming motions. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 9/4/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 09/04/2018)
2018-09-04MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall review this Court's 10 General Order and Guidelines Applicable to FOIA Cases, and promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for disclosure or briefing motions for summary judgment, on or before 9/18/2018. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 09/4/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 09/04/2018)
2018-09-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 9/18/2018 (tj) (Entered: 09/06/2018)
2018-09-1811Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 09/18/2018)
2018-09-18MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 10/18/2018, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 9/18/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 09/18/2018)
2018-10-1812Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 10/18/2018)
2018-10-19MINUTE ORDER. In light of the similar nature of this case and related case No. 18-cv-1337, this Court has determined that it will consider the cases on parallel timetables. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 11/16/2018, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Any proposed schedule in this matter should be the same as any schedule proposed in 18-cv-1337. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 10/19/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 10/19/2018)
2018-10-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/16/2018 (hs) (Entered: 10/23/2018)
2018-11-1613NOTICE of Appearance by Denise M. Clark on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Clark, Denise) (Entered: 11/16/2018)
2018-11-1614Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Clark, Denise) (Entered: 11/16/2018)
2018-11-21MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 12/14/2018, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 11/21/2018. (lckbj2) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2018-11-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/14/2018 (tj) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2018-11-21MINUTE ORDER requiring Plaintiff to show cause why this case should not be consolidated with American Oversight v. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 18-cv-1337 (KBJ). American Oversight is the plaintiff in both cases, and the complaints in the two cases are mostly identical. Consequently, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before November 30, 2018, Plaintiff shall SHOW CAUSE why the instant case should not be consolidated with the proceedings in 18-cv-1337. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 11/21/2018. (lckbj2) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2018-11-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Show Cause due by 11/30/2018. (gdf) (Entered: 11/26/2018)
2018-11-3015RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT re Order,, . (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 11/30/2018)
2018-12-04MINUTE ORDER DISCHARGING Order to Show Cause. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 12/4/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 12/04/2018)
2018-12-1416Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Clark, Denise) (Entered: 12/14/2018)
2018-12-18MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 1/15/2019, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 12/18/2018. (lckbj1) (Entered: 12/18/2018)
2019-01-1517Unopposed MOTION to Stay , Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to All Deadlines by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Pfaffenroth, Peter) (Entered: 01/15/2019)
2019-01-16MINUTE ORDER granting 12 Motion to Stay in light of lapse of appropriations. For good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is STAYED. Counsel for Defendant shall notify the Court as soon as Congress has appropriated funds; at that point, the Court will enter an order resetting the applicable deadlines, which will be extended day-for-day with the duration of the lapse in appropriations. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 1/16/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 01/16/2019)
2019-01-2818NOTICE of Restored Government Funding by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Clark, Denise) (Entered: 01/28/2019)
2019-01-31MINUTE ORDER. Defendant has provided notice that that an appropriations act providing funding to the Department of Justice for a three-week period of time was enacted on January 25, 2019 (ECF No. 18 .) Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that the stay in this matter is lifted, and that on or before 2/15/2019, the parties shall file a joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 1/29/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 01/31/2019)
2019-02-1519Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 02/15/2019)
2019-02-20MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 3/15/2019, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 2/20/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 02/20/2019)
2019-03-1520Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
2019-03-18MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before4/23/2019, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/18/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 03/18/2019)
2019-04-2321Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 04/23/2019)
2019-04-2522NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. Attorney April Denise Seabrook terminated. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-04-26MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before 6/11/2019, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 4/26/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 04/26/2019)
2019-06-1123Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Clark, Denise) (Entered: 06/11/2019)
2019-06-12MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 7/19/2019, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 6/12/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 06/12/2019)
2019-07-1924Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 07/19/2019)
2019-07-29MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 8/21/2019, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 7/29/19. (lckbj3) (Entered: 07/29/2019)
2019-08-2125Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 08/21/2019)
2019-08-27MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 9/27/2019, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 8/27/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-09-2626Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Clark, Denise) (Entered: 09/26/2019)
2019-09-27MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 12/3/2019, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 9/27/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 09/27/2019)
2019-09-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/3/2019 (hs) (Entered: 09/30/2019)
2019-10-1727NOTICE of Appearance by Sara Kaiser Creighton on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 10/17/2019)
2019-10-2128NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Cerissa Cafasso terminated. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-11-2629NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Michelle D. Jackson on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Denise M. Clark (Jackson, Michelle) (Entered: 11/26/2019)
2019-12-0230Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jackson, Michelle) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2019-12-02MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 30 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 3/3/2020, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 12/2/2019. (jag) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2020-03-0331NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
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