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Case TitleEDDINGTON v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv02081
Date Filed2019-07-12
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Jia M. Cobb
PlaintiffPATRICK EDDINGTON
Case DescriptionPatrick Eddington, a researcher at the Cato Institute, submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning the USA Freedom Act. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Eddington filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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

2019-07-121COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6252017) filed by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons)(Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-07-122NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Hart Burday on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-07-16Case Assigned to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. (zeg) (Entered: 07/16/2019)
2019-07-163SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zeg) (Entered: 07/16/2019)
2019-08-064NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 08/06/2019)
2019-08-275NOTICE of Appearance by Scott Leeson Sroka on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-08-276ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-08-277GENERAL 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 Court's 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 8/27/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-08-27MINUTE 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 7 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 9/10/2019. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 8/27/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-08-288RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 7/29/2019 (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 08/28/2019)
2019-08-289RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 7/29/2019. (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 08/28/2019)
2019-08-2810RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/29/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/28/2019. (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 08/28/2019)
2019-09-0911Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 09/09/2019)
2019-09-11MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 10/31/2019, 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 9/11/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 09/11/2019)
2019-10-3112Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-11-04MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 12/2/2019, 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 11/4/2019. (jag) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2019-12-0213Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2019-12-02MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 1/6/2020, 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)
2020-01-0614Joint STATUS REPORT by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 01/06/2020)
2020-01-10MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 3/2/2020, 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 1/10/2020. (jag) (Entered: 01/10/2020)
2020-02-2115NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by April Denise Seabrook on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Scott Sroka (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 02/21/2020)
2020-03-0216Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 03/02/2020)
2020-03-11MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 3/17/2020, 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 3/11/2020. (jag) (Entered: 03/11/2020)
2020-03-1717Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 03/17/2020)
2020-03-18MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 5/17/2020, 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 3/18/2020. (jag) (Entered: 03/18/2020)
2020-03-1918NOTICE of Appearance by Johnny Hillary Walker, III on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 03/19/2020)
2020-05-1319Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 05/13/2020)
2020-05-26MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 7/13/2020, 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 5/26/2020. (jag) (Entered: 05/26/2020)
2020-07-1320Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 07/13/2020)
2020-07-14MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 9/11/2020, 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 7/14/2020. (jag) (Entered: 07/14/2020)
2020-09-1121Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 09/11/2020)
2020-09-13NOTICE OF ERROR re 21 Status Report; emailed to april.seabrook@usdoj.gov, cc'd 8 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Invalid attorney signature, 2. DO NOT REFILE- FYI for future filings, signature must match login/password (zjf, ) (Entered: 09/13/2020)
2020-09-15MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 11/11/2020, 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 9/15/2020. (jag) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
2020-11-1222Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
2020-11-16MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 1/11/2021, 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 11/16/2020. (jag) (Entered: 11/16/2020)
2021-01-1123Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-01-25MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 3/11/2021, 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 1/25/2021. (jag) (Entered: 01/25/2021)
2021-03-1124Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 03/11/2021)
2021-03-17MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 5/11/2021, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for future proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/17/2021. (jag) (Entered: 03/17/2021)
2021-05-1125Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 05/11/2021)
2021-05-17MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 7/12/2021, the parties shall file further joint status report, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 5/17/2021. (jag) (Entered: 05/17/2021)
2021-06-28Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been elevated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She is therefore no longer assigned to this case, and this matter has been reassigned to the Calendar Committee, which will oversee it until it is assigned to another district judge. Any questions should be directed to Judge Jackson's former deputy clerk, Gwendolyn Franklin, at 202-354-3145 or gwen_franklin@dcd.uscourts.gov. (rj) (Entered: 06/28/2021)
2021-07-1226Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 07/12/2021)
2021-07-27MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by September 14, 2021. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on July 27, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 07/27/2021)
2021-07-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/14/2021. (zgdf) (Entered: 07/28/2021)
2021-09-1427Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Weiner, Blake) (Entered: 09/14/2021)
2021-09-16MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 27 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by November 15, 2021. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 16, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 09/16/2021)
2021-09-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/15/2021. (zgdf) (Entered: 09/16/2021)
2021-11-15Case directly reassigned to Judge Jia M. Cobb. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been appointed to the D.C. Circuit and is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 11/15/2021)
2021-11-1528Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Weiner, Blake) (Entered: 11/15/2021)
2021-11-30MINUTE ORDER re 28 Status Report filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another Joint Status Report due by January 14, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on November 30, 2021. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 11/30/2021)
2021-12-0129NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Blake A. Weiner on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Johnny Walker (Weiner, Blake) (Entered: 12/01/2021)
2022-01-2130NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-2131MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-21MINUTE ORDER granting 31 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney: The Motion to Withdraw the appearance of Joshua Burday is hereby GRANTED. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 21, 2022. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-21MINUTE ORDER: On November 30, 2021, the Court ordered the Parties to submit a Joint Status Report by January 14, 2022, apprising the Court of the status of Defendant's responses to Plaintiff's FOIA request. To date, the Court has not received any report. The Court therefore ORDERS the Parties to file a Joint Status Report by January 28, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 21, 2022. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-2432Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Weiner, Blake) (Entered: 01/24/2022)
2022-01-24MINUTE ORDER re 32 Status Report filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another joint status report by March 15, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 24, 2022. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 01/24/2022)
2022-03-1433NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-1634STATUS REPORT by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 03/16/2022)
2022-03-16MINUTE ORDER re 34 Status Report filed by PATRICK EDDINGTON: The Court has reviewed Plaintiff's Status Report and directs the Parties to file a Joint Status Report by April 14, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on March 16, 2022. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 03/16/2022)
2022-03-16NOTICE OF ERROR re 34 Status Report; emailed to matt@loevy.com, cc'd 8 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Invalid attorney signature, 2. DO NOT REFILE - Counsel is reminded signature must match login/password (zjf, ) (Entered: 03/16/2022)
2022-04-0435NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by April Denise Seabrook on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Blake A. Weiner (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 04/04/2022)
2022-04-1436Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 04/14/2022)
2022-04-15MINUTE ORDER re 36 Status Report filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another joint status report by June 2, 2022. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on April 15, 2022. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 04/15/2022)
2022-06-0237Joint STATUS REPORT by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 06/02/2022)
2022-06-27MINUTE ORDER re 37 Status Report filed by PATRICK EDDINGTON: The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another joint status report by July 18, 2022. It is further ORDERED that the Parties shall file joint status reports every 60 days thereafter until further order of the Court. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on June 27, 2022. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 06/27/2022)
2022-07-1838Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 07/18/2022)
2022-07-19MINUTE ORDER re 38 Status Report filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another joint status report by October 17, 2022. It is further ORDERED that the Parties shall file joint status reports every 90 days thereafter until further order of the Court. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on July 19, 2022. (lcjmc2) (Entered: 07/19/2022)
2022-09-0839NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Robert Aaron Caplen on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney April Seabrook (Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 09/08/2022)
2022-10-1740Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2023-01-1141Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 01/11/2023)
2023-01-1142ERRATA by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE re 41 Status Report. (Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 01/11/2023)
2023-03-1643NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Fithawi Berhane on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Robert A. Caplen (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 03/16/2023)
2023-04-1144Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 04/11/2023)
2023-07-1045Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 07/10/2023)
2023-07-11MINUTE ORDER re 45 Joint Status Report: The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another joint status report by October 9, 2023. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on July 11, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 07/11/2023)
2023-10-1046Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 10/10/2023)
2023-10-11MINUTE ORDER re 46 Joint Status Report: The Court has reviewed the Parties' Joint Status Report and directs the Parties to file another joint status report by December 8, 2023. It is further ORDERED that the Parties shall file joint status reports every 60 days thereafter until further order of the Court. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on October 11, 2023. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 10/11/2023)
2023-12-0847Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 12/08/2023)
2024-02-0948Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 02/09/2024)
2024-02-13MINUTE ORDER re 48 Joint Status Report: It is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff will file its motion for attorney's fees on or before March 29, 2024; Defendant will file its opposition to Plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees on or before May 3, 2024; and Plaintiff will file its reply to Defendant's opposition on or before May 31, 2024. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on February 13, 2024. (lcjmc1) (Entered: 02/13/2024)
2024-03-2949NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen Stich Match on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Match, Stephen) (Entered: 03/29/2024)
2024-03-2950MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Eddington Decl, # 2 Declaration Topic Decl)(Match, Stephen) (Entered: 03/29/2024)
2024-05-0351Memorandum in opposition to re 50 Motion for Attorney Fees filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 05/03/2024)
2024-05-2452REPLY to opposition to motion re 50 MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs filed by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Second Topic Decl)(Match, Stephen) (Entered: 05/24/2024)
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