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Case TitleFOSTER v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv02744
Date Filed2019-09-13
Date Closed2021-05-26
JudgeJudge Ketanji Brown Jackson
PlaintiffHELEN FOSTER
Case DescriptionHelen Foster, an employee of HUD, submitted three FOIA requests to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Her first FOIA request asked for records about herself that had been disclosed to reporters. Her second FOIA request asked for records provided to the House Oversight Committee in response to an information request. Her third FOIA request asked for records concerning the investigation of a hostile workplace complaint filed against her. The agency provided interim responses to the first two requests. The agency told Foster it was processing her third request. After hearing nothing further from the agency pertaining to any of her requests, Foster filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
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

2019-09-131COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief to Obtain Freedom of Information Act Information against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6377114) filed by HELEN FOSTER. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons HUD, # 3 Summons U.S. AG Barr, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney for DC)(London, Ronald) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-09-16Case Assigned to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. (zeg) (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-162GENERAL 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 9/16/2019. (lckbj1) (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-163SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zeg) (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-234RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT served on 9/18/2019 (London, Ronald) (Entered: 09/23/2019)
2019-09-235RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/17/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/17/2019. (London, Ronald) (Entered: 09/23/2019)
2019-09-236RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09/17/2019. (London, Ronald) (Entered: 09/23/2019)
2019-10-017NOTICE of Appearance by Jason Todd Cohen on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 10/01/2019)
2019-10-178ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.(Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 10/17/2019)
2019-10-21MINUTE 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 2 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 11/4/2019. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 10/21/2019. (jag) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motion due by 11/4/2019. (zgdf) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-11-049Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Cohen, Jason) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2019-11-12MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 12/17/2019, 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 11/12/2019. (jag) (Entered: 11/12/2019)
2019-12-0910NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Sean Michael Tepe on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Substituting for attorney Jason Cohen (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 12/09/2019)
2019-12-1711Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 12/17/2019)
2019-12-26MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 1/16/2020, 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 12/26/2019. (jag) (Entered: 12/26/2019)
2020-01-1612Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 01/16/2020)
2020-01-24MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 2/18/2020, 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 1/24/2020. (jag) (Entered: 01/24/2020)
2020-02-1813Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 02/18/2020)
2020-02-28MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 4/1/2020, 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 2/27/2020. (jag) (Entered: 02/28/2020)
2020-04-0114Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 04/01/2020)
2020-04-28MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 6/1/2020, 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 4/28/2020. (jag) (Entered: 04/28/2020)
2020-06-0115Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 06/01/2020)
2020-06-10MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 7/31/2020, 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 6/10/2020. (jag) (Entered: 06/10/2020)
2020-07-3116Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-08-05MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 9/30/2020, 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 08/05/2020. (lckbj2) (Entered: 08/05/2020)
2020-09-3017Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 09/30/2020)
2020-10-15MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 11/30/2020, 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 10/15/2020. (jag) (Entered: 10/15/2020)
2020-11-3018Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 11/30/2020)
2020-12-07MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 12/21/2020, 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 12/7/2020. (jag) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2020-12-2119Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-29MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 1/20/2021, 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 12/29/2020. (jag) (Entered: 12/29/2020)
2021-01-2120Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 01/21/2021)
2021-01-25MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 2/19/2021, 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)
2021-02-1921Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-02-2622NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Eric J. Feder on behalf of HELEN FOSTER Substituting for attorney Ronald G. London (Feder, Eric) (Entered: 02/26/2021)
2021-02-2623MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney by HELEN FOSTER. (London, Ronald) (Entered: 02/26/2021)
2021-03-03MINUTE ORDER granting 23 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney. Attorney Ronald London terminated. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/3/2021. (jag) Modified event title on 3/8/2021 (znmw). (Entered: 03/03/2021)
2021-03-17MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 27 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 3/22/2021, 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)
2021-03-2224Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 03/22/2021)
2021-03-23MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that on or before 4/21/2021, 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 3/23/2021. (jag) Modified on 3/25/2021, to make correction. (zgdf). (Entered: 03/23/2021)
2021-04-2125Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 04/21/2021)
2021-04-25MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 5/21/2021, 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 4/25/2021. (jag) (Entered: 04/25/2021)
2021-05-2126Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 05/21/2021)
2021-05-21MINUTE ORDER. Where only attorneys' fees remain at issue in a FOIA case, it is the practice of this Court to close the case administratively while it awaits notice from the parties regarding settlement of the attorneys' fees or a joint proposed schedule for briefing this remaining dispute. Accordingly, in light of the representations in the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that this matter be ADMINISTRATIVELY CLOSED. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on or before 7/20/2021, which shall contain a proposed schedule for briefing the issue of attorneys' fees, if such briefing is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 5/21/2021. (jag) (Entered: 05/21/2021)
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