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Case TitleBUZZFEED INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03024
Date Filed2019-10-09
Date Closed2020-05-28
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffBUZZFEED, INC.
Case DescriptionBuzzFeed submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Treasury for records concerning the final report/memo for nine identified IG investigations, audits, or complaints. BuzzFeed also requested a fee waiver. After hearing nothing further from the agency, BuzzFeed filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

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

2019-10-091COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6437648) filed by BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 10/09/2019)
2019-10-092NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 10/09/2019)
2019-10-093LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 10/09/2019)
2019-10-10Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zed, ) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-104SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zed, ) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
2019-10-275NOTICE of Appearance by Alan Burch on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 10/27/2019)
2019-11-066RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY served on 10/18/2019 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-067RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/18/2019. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-068RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/18/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/17/2019. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-189ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.(Burch, Alan) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-18MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues no later than 12/20/19. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 11/18/19. (DJS) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/20/2019. (tb) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-12-2010Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2019-12-2011MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 10 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint report and proposed order by January 20, 2020. (DJS). Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/20/19. (DJS) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2019-12-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/20/2020. (tb) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2020-01-2112Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 01/21/2020)
2020-01-22MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 12 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall adhere to the following deadlines: Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment due March 23, 2020. Plaintiff's Combined Opposition and Cross Motion due April 20, 2020. Defendant's Combined Reply and Cross Opposition due May 11, 2020. Plaintiff's Cross Reply due May 25, 2020. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 1/22/20. (DJS) (Entered: 01/22/2020)
2020-01-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motion due by 4/20/2020. Response to Cross Motion due by 5/11/2020. Reply to Cross Motion due by 5/25/2020. Summary Judgment motion due by 3/23/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 4/20/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 5/11/2020. (tb) (Entered: 01/23/2020)
2020-03-1913Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 03/19/2020)
2020-03-21MINUTE ORDER: Granting 13 Consent Motion to extend deadlines: Defendant's Motion for summary judgment due April 2, 2020. Plaintiff's response due May 4, 2020. Defendant's reply due May 25, 2020. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 3/21/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 03/21/2020)
2020-03-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motion due by 4/2/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 5/4/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 5/25/2020. (tb) (Entered: 03/23/2020)
2020-03-3114Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 03/31/2020)
2020-03-31MINUTE ORDER: Granting 14 Consent Motion for Extension of Deadlines. The parties shall adhere to the following deadlines: Defendant shall move for summary judgment by April 16, 2020. Plaintiff shall file its opposition by May 18, 2020. Defendant shall file its reply by June 8, 2020. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 3/31/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 03/31/2020)
2020-03-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motion due by 4/16/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 5/18/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 6/28/2020. (tb) (Entered: 03/31/2020)
2020-04-0215Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Plaintiff's Cross Reply by BUZZFEED, INC. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 04/02/2020)
2020-04-03MINUTE ORDER: Granting 15 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Deadlines. Plaintiff's Reply in Support of its Cross Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before June 22, 2020. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 4/3/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 04/03/2020)
2020-04-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Reply to Cross Motion due by 6/22/2020. (tb) (Entered: 04/03/2020)
2020-04-1616Joint MOTION to Vacate Briefing Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 04/16/2020)
2020-04-17MINUTE ORDER: Granting 16 Joint Motion to Vacate. The summary judgment briefing schedule is hereby VACATED. The parties shall file a joint status report, accompanied by a proposed order, by May 22, 2020 as to whether they anticipate resolving the remaining issues regarding attorneys fees. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 4/17/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 04/17/2020)
2020-04-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/22/2020. Briefing schedule deadlines terminated. (tb) (Entered: 04/17/2020)
2020-05-2217Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY. (Burch, Alan) (Entered: 05/22/2020)
2020-05-2718STIPULATION of Dismissal by BUZZFEED, INC.. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/27/2020)
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