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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv02562
Date Filed2019-08-26
Date Closed2021-06-17
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted five FOIA requests to the Department of Justice for records concerning communications between former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others in his office with U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah John Huber, who had been directed by Sessions to investigate various matters. American Oversight also requested communications involving DOJ, Huber, and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC). The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys told American Oversight that it did not find any records pertaining to communications between Huber and Meadows. American Oversight filed an administrative appeal of that decision. After hearing nothing further pertaining to any of the requests, American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, 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

2019-08-261COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6340401) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 08/26/2019)
2019-08-262LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 08/26/2019)
2019-08-27Case assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmc) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-08-273SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 08/27/2019)
2019-09-124RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/28/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/27/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 9/3/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 9/3/2019 (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 09/12/2019)
2019-09-275NOTICE of Appearance by Michael Joseph Gerardi on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 09/27/2019)
2019-09-276ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 09/27/2019)
2019-09-30MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. According to Local Civil Rule 16.3, the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) are inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before October 21, 2019. The Joint Status Report shall address: (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the Parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 30, 2019. (lccjn1) (Entered: 09/30/2019)
2019-10-187NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Alexander McGrath on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (McGrath, Daniel) (Main Document 7 replaced on 10/23/2019) (znmw). (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-10-218Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-21MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before December 3, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 21, 2019. (lccjn1) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-21Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 12/3/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-10-229NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Cerissa Cafasso terminated. (Cafasso, Cerissa) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-12-0310Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 12/03/2019)
2019-12-04MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before January 17, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on December 4, 2019. (lccjn1) (Entered: 12/04/2019)
2019-12-04Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 1/17/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 12/04/2019)
2020-01-1711Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 01/17/2020)
2020-01-21MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before March 12, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 21, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 01/21/2020)
2020-01-21Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 3/12/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 01/26/2020)
2020-02-2712STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 27, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 02/27/2020)
2020-03-1213Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 03/12/2020)
2020-03-13MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before May 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 13, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-03-13Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 5/5/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-05-0414Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 05/04/2020)
2020-05-05MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before June 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 5, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-05-05Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 6/5/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-06-0515Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 06/05/2020)
2020-06-08MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before July 8, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 8, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 06/08/2020)
2020-06-08Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 7/8/2020. (zcdw) (Entered: 06/09/2020)
2020-07-0816Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 07/08/2020)
2020-07-10MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before October 1, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on July 10, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 07/10/2020)
2020-07-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/1/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 07/13/2020)
2020-10-0117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 10/01/2020)
2020-10-06MINUTE ORDER. In light of the Parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report on or before November 12, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 6, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-10-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/12/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 10/07/2020)
2020-11-1218Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
2020-11-17MINUTE ORDER. After review of the Parties' 18 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report by December 17, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on November 17, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 11/17/2020)
2020-11-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/17/2020. (zcal) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-12-1719Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 12/17/2020)
2020-12-17MINUTE ORDER. After review of the Parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report by January 15, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on December 17, 2020. (lccjn1) (Entered: 12/17/2020)
2020-12-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/15/2021. (zkh) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2021-01-1420Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 01/14/2021)
2021-01-29MINUTE ORDER. After review of the Parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report by February 15, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 29, 2021. (lccjn1) (Entered: 01/29/2021)
2021-01-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/15/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 01/29/2021)
2021-02-0921Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 02/09/2021)
2021-02-16MINUTE ORDER. After review of the Parties' 21 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report by February 19, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 16, 2021. (lccjn1) (Entered: 02/16/2021)
2021-02-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/19/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 02/17/2021)
2021-02-1922Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-03-03MINUTE ORDER. After the review of the Parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional joint status report by March 12, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 3, 2021. (lccjn1) (Entered: 03/03/2021)
2021-03-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/12/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
2021-03-04MINUTE ORDER. It is hereby ORDERED that the March 3, 2021 Minute Order is VACATED. It is further ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report by May 5, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 4, 2021. (lccjn1) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
2021-03-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/5/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 03/05/2021)
2021-04-2923NOTICE of Appearance by Hart W. Wood on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-04-2924NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Daniel Alexander McGrath terminated. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-05-0525Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gerardi, Michael) (Entered: 05/05/2021)
2021-06-02MINUTE ORDER. After the review of the Parties' 25 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit an additional joint status report by June 16, 2021. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 2, 2021. (lccjn1) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/16/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 06/04/2021)
2021-06-1626STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 06/16/2021)
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