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Case TitleMULANGU et al v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv02682
Date Filed2019-09-09
Date Closed2020-11-23
JudgeJudge Reggie B. Walton
PlaintiffDEBORAH MULANGU
PlaintiffNYANKOYE DRAMOU
PlaintiffCATHOLIC CHARITIES
Case DescriptionOn behalf of Deborah Mulangu and Nyankoke Dramou, two asylum applicants, Catholic Charities submitted FOIA requests to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for asylum assessment reports on both of them. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but refused to disclose any portion of the assessment reports even those portions that contained factual material. Catholic Charities alleged that USCIS has a policy and practice of providing entire assessment reports to immigration judges and appellate courts, often blindsiding the applicants in court. Mulangu, Dramou, and Catholic Charities then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Segregability - Disclosure of all non-exempt records, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
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

2019-09-091COMPLAINT Deborah Mulangu, et al against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6364423) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Notice to Counsel/Party, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons)(Cleveland, David) Modified filer on 9/19/2019 (znmw). (Entered: 09/09/2019)
2019-09-092NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by CATHOLIC CHARITIES, NYANKOYE DRAMOU, DEBORAH MULANGU. Case related to Case No. 15-cv-0459. (zeg) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-103ERRATA by DEBORAH MULANGU 1 Complaint, filed by DEBORAH MULANGU. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-10Case Assigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton. (zeg) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-104SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zeg) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-105RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/10/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/10/2019. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-166RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 9/12/2019 (Cleveland, David) Modified to correct party served on 9/17/2019 (ztd). (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-167RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09-13-2019. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-268NOTICE of Appearance by Johnny Hillary Walker, III on behalf of All Defendants (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 09/26/2019)
2019-10-109MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 9 Motion for an Extension of Time, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall respond to the plaintiffs' Complaint on or before November 12, 2019. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 10, 2019. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 11/12/2019. (tj) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 11/12/2019 (hs) (Entered: 10/16/2019)
2019-10-1610ORDER REFERRING CASE for mediation. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 16, 2019. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 10/16/2019)
2019-10-16CASE RANDOMLY REFERRED to Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson for mediation. (zad) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-10-18Set/Reset Hearings: Settlement Conference set for 12/3/2019 at 02:00 PM in Chambers before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson. (lcdar3) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-11-0811MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 11/08/2019)
2019-11-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 11 Motion for an Extension of Time, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall respond to the plaintiffs' Complaint on or before January 17, 2020. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 12, 2019. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 11/12/2019)
2019-11-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer to the Complaint due by 1/17/2020, (hs) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
2019-11-1812First MOTION to Certify Class by DEBORAH MULANGU (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-2113MEMORANDUM re 12 First MOTION to Certify Class filed by DEBORAH MULANGU by DEBORAH MULANGU. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 11/21/2019)
2019-12-0214MOTION to Stay Proceedings Pending Mediation by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2019-12-03Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson: Settlement Conference conducted on 12/3/2019. A further Settlement Conference will be scheduled for 2:30 PM on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, in Chambers before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson. (lcjh) (Entered: 12/03/2019)
2019-12-03Set/Reset Hearings: Settlement Conference set for 12/18/2019 at 02:30 PM in Chambers before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson. (lcjh) (Entered: 12/03/2019)
2019-12-0315ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's identical motions to stay proceedings pending mediation in the above-captioned cases, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant's Motion to Stay Proceedings Pending Mediation, Gatore v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Security, Civ. Action No. 15-459, ECF No. 141, and the defendant's Motion to Stay Proceedings Pending Mediation, Mulangu v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Security, Civ. Action No. 19 2682, ECF No. 14, are GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. The motions are GRANTED to the extent that they seek to vacate all deadlines relating to the plaintiffs' pending motions. The motions are DENIED in all other respects. It is further ORDERED that all deadlines relating to the pending motions in Civ. Action Nos. 15-459 and 19-2682 are VACATED pending further order of the Court. It is further ORDERED that, if the parties are unable to reach a settlement by the end of the mediation period, the parties shall propose a schedule to govern the plaintiffs' motions at the post-mediation status conference scheduled for December 19, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on December 3, 2019. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 12/03/2019)
2019-12-0316GENERAL ORDER FOR CIVIL CASES BEFORE THE HONORABLE REGGIE B. WALTON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on December 3, 2019. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 12/03/2019)
2019-12-18Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson: Settlement Conference held on 12/18/2019; Referral for mediation is concluded. (lcjh) (Entered: 12/18/2019)
2019-12-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Motion to Dismiss due by 1/17/2020. Plaintiff's Response due by 1/27/2020. Defendant's Reply due by 2/3/2020. (zjch) (Entered: 12/19/2019)
2019-12-2017ORDER. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on December 20, 2019. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2019-12-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Motion due by 1/17/2020. Response due by 1/27/2020; Reply in Support of its Motion due by 2/3/2020. (hs) (Entered: 12/23/2019)
2020-01-1718MOTION for Summary Judgment by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration of Jill Eggleston, # 4 Declaration of Jill Eggleston (Gatore v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec., No. 15-0459 (D.D.C.)), # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 01/17/2020)
2020-01-2619Memorandum in opposition to re 18 MOTION for Summary Judgment by DHS filed by DEBORAH MULANGU. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Cleveland, David) (Entered: 01/26/2020)
2020-02-0320Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 18 MOTION for Summary Judgment by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 02/03/2020)
2020-02-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Consent Motion for an Extension of Time, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that, on or before February 17, 2020, the defendant shall file its reply in support of its motion for summary judgment. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 3, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 02/03/2020)
2020-02-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Reply in support of its Motion for Summary Judgment due by 2/17/2020. (hs) (Entered: 02/03/2020)
2020-02-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/2/2020 (hs) (Entered: 02/03/2020)
2020-02-1721REPLY to opposition to motion re 18 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 02/17/2020)
2020-02-1922NOTICE of Appearance by Brian W. Stolarz on behalf of CATHOLIC CHARITIES (Stolarz, Brian) (Entered: 02/19/2020)
2020-03-0223NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to CATHOLIC CHARITIES. Attorney David Laundon Cleveland terminated. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 03/02/2020)
2020-03-2724MOTION for Leave to File Supplemental Authorities by DEBORAH MULANGU (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 03/27/2020)
2020-04-08MINUTE ORDER. The Court requiring additional time to consider the pending motions in this case, it is hereby ORDERED that the status conference currently scheduled for May 1, 2020, is CONTINUED to September 4, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on April 8, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 04/08/2020)
2020-04-09Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference reset for 9/4/2020 at 02:00 PM in Courtroom 16 before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (hs) (Entered: 04/09/2020)
2020-08-26MINUTE ORDER. The Court requiring additional time to consider the pending motions in this case, it is hereby ORDERED that the status conference currently scheduled for September 4, 2020, is CONTINUED to December 1, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 26, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-08-26Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 12/1/2020 at 2:00 PM in Courtroom 16 before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (zgdf) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-10-12MINUTE ORDER. The Court requiring additional information before resolving the pending motions in this case, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall appear before the Court for a motions hearing on October 21, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., via teleconference by calling 1-877-873-8017 and entering the Court's access code (8583213) followed by the pound key (#). Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 12, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 10/12/2020)
2020-10-13Set/Reset Hearings: Motion Hearing set for 10/21/2020 at 10:00 AM by Telephonic/VTC before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (hs) (Entered: 10/13/2020)
2020-10-21Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Reggie B. Walton: Motion Hearing held on 10/21/2020. Plaintiff's motion for leave to amend 24 is GRANTED, and plaintiff shall file an amended motion for leave to amend to include 40 additional plaintiffs. Plaintiff to file a memorandum which sets forth authority by 10/28/2020. Government's response if any shall be filed by 11/4/2020. Motion for leave to file surreply filed by Catholic Charities is GRANTED for reasons stated on the record. Motion for summary judgment by Catholic Charities is DENIED as moot for reasons stated on the record. Next Status Conference set for 12/4/2020 at 12:00 PM before Judge Reggie B. Walton via telephone) (Court Reporter Cathryn Jones.) (ztj) (Entered: 10/21/2020)
2020-10-2325ORDER. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 23, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 10/23/2020)
2020-10-2726MEMORANDUM re 12 First MOTION to Certify Class filed by DEBORAH MULANGU by DEBORAH MULANGU. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 10/27/2020)
2020-11-0227STIPULATION of Dismissal by CATHOLIC CHARITIES. (Stolarz, Brian) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2020-11-09MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 27 Stipulation of Dismissal, it is hereby ORDERED that, as to all claims and causes of action brought by the plaintiff Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, this case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 9, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 11/09/2020)
2020-11-10MINUTE ORDER. The Court requiring additional information before resolving the pending motions in this case, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall appear before the Court for a motions hearing on November 19, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. via teleconference by calling 1-877-873-8017 and entering the Court's access code (8583213) followed by the pound key (#). Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 10, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2020-11-10Set/Reset Hearings: Motion Hearing set for 11/19/2020 at 10:30 AM by Telephonic/VTC before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (hs) (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2020-11-19Minute Entry; for proceedings held before Judge Reggie B. Walton: Motions Hearing held on 11/19/2020. A written scheduling order will issue from Chambers. Motion Hearing set for 1/8/2021 at 02:00 PM by Telephonic/VTC before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (Court Reporter Cathryn Jones) (hs) (Entered: 11/19/2020)
2020-11-1928ORDER. In accordance with the attached Order, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant's 18 Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED because the relief requested by the plaintiffs has been provided to them. It is further ORDERED that summary judgment is ENTERED for the defendant on the plaintiffs' Complaint. It is further ORDERED that the 12 Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification is DENIED AS MOOT. It is further ORDERED that 24 Mulangu's Motion for Leave to File Supplemental Authorities is DENIED AS MOOT. It is further ORDERED that the status conference currently scheduled for December 4, 2020, is VACATED. It is further ORDERED that this case is CLOSED. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 19, 2020. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 11/19/2020)
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