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Case TitleKobre & Kim LLP v. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
DistrictSouthern District of New York
CityFoley Square
Case Number1:2019cv10151
Date Filed2019-10-31
Date Closed2022-08-02
JudgeJudge Lewis A. Kaplan
PlaintiffKobre & Kim LLP
Case DescriptionThe law firm of Kobre & Kim submitted a FOIA request to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for records concerning the settlement agreement reached in the Kraft case. After the agency failed to respond, Kobre & Kim filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantCommodity Futures Trading Commission
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Opinion/Order [22]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-10-311COMPLAINT against Commodity Futures Trading Commission. (Filing Fee $ 400.00, Receipt Number ANYSDC-17873336)Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-10-312CIVIL COVER SHEET filed. (Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-10-313RULE 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. No Corporate Parent. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP.(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-10-314FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT PLEADING - SUMMONS REQUEST PDF ERROR - REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Commodity Futures Trading Commission, re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Sauter, Benjamin) Modified on 11/1/2019 (dnh). (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-11-01CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/District . Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf_filing.php . (dnh) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-01Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang is so designated. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: http://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms.php . (dnh) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-01Case Designated ECF. (dnh) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-01***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS. Notice to Attorney Benjamin Jeffrey Aaron Sauter to RE-FILE Document No. 4 Request for Issuance of Summons. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): the PDF attached to the docket entry for the issuance of summons is not correct; the defendant name listed on the summons PDF must exactly match the party of record. Re-file the document using the event type Request for Issuance of Summons found under the event list Service of Process - select the correct filer/filers - and attach the correct summons form PDF. (dnh) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-015REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Commodity Futures Trading Commission, re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-046ORDER REFERRING CASE TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE: Order that case be referred to the Clerk of Court for assignment to a Magistrate Judge for General Pretrial (includes scheduling, discovery, non-dispositive pretrial motions, and settlement); Dispositive Motion (i.e., motion requiringa Report and Recommendation), All such motions. Referred to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan on 11/4/2019) (jca) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2019-11-047ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Commodity Futures Trading Commission. (dnh) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2019-11-068NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by David Harrison McGill on behalf of Kobre & Kim LLP. (McGill, David) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-069NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Jonathan David Cogan on behalf of Kobre & Kim LLP. (Cogan, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-0610NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Michael Sangyun Kim on behalf of Kobre & Kim LLP. (Kim, Michael) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-0611NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Sean Stephen Buckley on behalf of Kobre & Kim LLP. (Buckley, Sean) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-1812INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE ORDER: Initial Conference set for 1/22/2020 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 20D, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang and further set forth in this Order. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on 11/18/2019) (rro) (Entered: 11/18/2019)
2019-11-2013AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE (FOIA CASE). Commodity Futures Trading Commission served on 11/18/2019, answer due 12/18/2019. Service was made by MAIL. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Affidavit of Aldane Chambers)(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/20/2019)
2019-11-2114NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Rachael Lightfoot Doud on behalf of Commodity Futures Trading Commission. (Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 11/21/2019)
2019-11-2515AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE of Order Referring Case to Magistrate Judge, Order for Initial Pretrial Conference served on Commodity Futures Trading Commission on 11/25/2019. Service was made by MAIL. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/25/2019)
2019-12-1816ANSWER to 1 Complaint. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission.(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 12/18/2019)
2020-01-1517LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Rachael L. Doud dated January 15, 2020 re: Initial Conference. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission.(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-01-1618MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 17 Letter filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ENDORSEMENT: Application Granted. The conference scheduled for January 22, 2020 is adjourned. Parties are to submit joint status updates every two months beginning March 31, 2020. If the parties cannot resolve the issue briefly described in their letter, or any other issues that may arise, they are to submit a letter motion in accordance with the individual practices of the undersigned. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on 1/16/2020) (rro) (Entered: 01/16/2020)
2020-03-3019LETTER MOTION for Discovery addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Benjamin Sauter dated 03/03/2020. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 03/30/2020)
2020-03-3120LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Rachael L. Doud dated March 31, 2020 re: Status Letter. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 03/31/2020)
2020-04-0221LETTER RESPONSE to Motion addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Rachael L. Doud dated April 2, 2020 re: 19 LETTER MOTION for Discovery addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Benjamin Sauter dated 03/03/2020. . Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 04/02/2020)
2020-04-1422ORDER denying 19 Letter Motion for Discovery. Plaintiff's request for a pre-motion conference is DENIED. The following briefing schedule will apply to Plaintiff's motion to compel: Plaintiff's motion due by May 1, 2020. Defendant's opposition due by May 15, 2020. Plaintiff's reply due by May 22, 2020. The parties' briefing should discuss both (1) whether this is the appropriate stage of the case to address the scope of the review period, and (2) the merits of whether the review period should extend to August 21, 2019. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on 4/14/2020) (rro) (Entered: 04/14/2020)
2020-04-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Motions due by 5/1/2020. Responses due by 5/15/2020 Replies due by 5/22/2020. (rro) (Entered: 04/14/2020)
2020-05-0123MOTION to Compel Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Extend Document Search . Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/01/2020)
2020-05-0124MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 23 MOTION to Compel Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Extend Document Search . . Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/01/2020)
2020-05-0125DECLARATION of Benjamin J.A. Sauter in Support re: 23 MOTION to Compel Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Extend Document Search .. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A).(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/01/2020)
2020-05-1526MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Opposition re: 23 MOTION to Compel Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Extend Document Search . . Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 05/15/2020)
2020-05-1527DECLARATION of Rachael L. Doud in Opposition re: 23 MOTION to Compel Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Extend Document Search .. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A).(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 05/15/2020)
2020-05-2228REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 23 MOTION to Compel Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Extend Document Search . . Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/22/2020)
2020-05-2929LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Rachael L. Doud dated May 29, 2020 re: Status Letter. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-07-3130STATUS REPORT. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-09-0431LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Rachael L. Doud dated September 4, 2020 re: Proposed Schedule for Filing of Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 09/04/2020)
2020-09-1032MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 31 Letter Proposed Schedule for Filing of Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment. filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ENDORSEMENT : SO ORDERED: Briefing Scheduled GRANTED., ( Cross Motions due by 11/18/2020., Motions due by 10/19/2020., Responses due by 12/7/2020, Replies due by 12/21/2020.) (Signed by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on 9/10/20) (yv) (Entered: 09/11/2020)
2020-10-1933MOTION for Summary Judgment . Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 10/19/2020)
2020-10-1934MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 33 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 10/19/2020)
2020-10-1935DECLARATION of Rosemary Bajorek in Support re: 33 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2).(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 10/19/2020)
2020-11-1836MOTION for Summary Judgment . Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-11-1837RULE 56.1 STATEMENT. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-11-1838MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 36 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-11-1839DECLARATION of Benjamin Sauter in Support re: 36 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Exhibit H).(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-12-0740NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Alexander James Hogan on behalf of Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Hogan, Alexander) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2020-12-0741REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 33 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Hogan, Alexander) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2020-12-0742RESPONSE re: 37 Rule 56.1 Statement . Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Hogan, Alexander) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2020-12-0743DECLARATION of Rosemary Bajorek in Support re: 33 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Hogan, Alexander) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2020-12-2144REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 36 MOTION for Summary Judgment . . Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-2145DECLARATION of Benjamin Sauter in Support re: 36 MOTION for Summary Judgment .. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C).(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2021-02-1146ORDER denying as moot 23 Motion to Compel Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Extend Document Search. The issues raised in the Motion to Compel will be decided in connection with the fully briefed motions for Summary Judgment. (HEREBY ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang)(Text Only Order) (rlf) (Entered: 02/11/2021)
2021-09-0947LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Rachael L. Doud dated September 9, 2021 re: Request for Termination of Appearance. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Doud, Rachael) (Entered: 09/09/2021)
2021-09-2248MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 47 Letter filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ENDORSEMENT: Application GRANTED. SO ORDERED. Attorney Rachael Lightfoot Doud terminated. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on 9/22/2021) (vfr) (Entered: 09/22/2021)
2021-11-3049LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Alexander J. Hogan dated November 30, 2021 re: recently issued decision from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission. (Attachments: # 1 NRDC v. EPA).(Hogan, Alexander) (Entered: 11/30/2021)
2021-12-0750NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by George Stamatopoulos on behalf of Kobre & Kim LLP..(Stamatopoulos, George) (Entered: 12/07/2021)
2021-12-0751LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from George Stamatopoulos dated 12/07/2021 re: Response to CTFC Letter. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Stamatopoulos, George) (Entered: 12/07/2021)
2022-04-2152LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Benjamin J.A. Sauter dated 04/21/2022 re: Letter to Judge Wang re: Kraft. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A).(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/21/2022)
2022-04-2753LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Alexander J. Hogan dated April 27, 2022 re: response to Plaintiff's April 21, 2022, letter. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Hogan, Alexander) (Entered: 04/27/2022)
2022-05-1854NOTICE of Substitution of Attorney. Old Attorney: Alexander Hogan, New Attorney: Jean-David Barnea, Address: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, 86 Chambers St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10007, 212-637-2679. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Barnea, Jean-David) (Entered: 05/18/2022)
2022-05-2555LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from Benjamin J.A. Sauter dated May 25, 2022 re: Letter to Judge Wang re: Kraft. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B).(Sauter, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/25/2022)
2022-05-2756LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from AUSA Jean-David Barnea dated 5/27/22 re: Exemption 7(A) Withholdings. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Barnea, Jean-David) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
2022-06-0157ORDER: The Court will hold an in-person status conference in this matter on Thursday, June 09, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 20D, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007. The parties shall file a joint agenda three days in advance of the conference, i.e., by Monday, June 6, 2022, which shall inform the Court of the applicability of ECF Nos. 55 and 56 to the parties' pending Summary Judgment motions (ECF Nos. 33 and 36). Status Conference set for 6/9/2022 at 02:00 PM in Courtroom 20D, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on 6/1/2022) (rro) (Entered: 06/01/2022)
2022-06-0658LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from George Stamatopoulos dated June 6, 2022 re: Proposed Joint Agenda. Document filed by Kobre & Kim LLP..(Stamatopoulos, George) (Entered: 06/06/2022)
2022-06-0959ORDER. The parties are directed to submit a joint status letter by July 1, 2022. (HEREBY ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang) (Text Only Order) (sfh) (Entered: 06/09/2022)
2022-06-09Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang: Status Conference held on 6/9/2022. (Quinn, Diane) (Entered: 06/28/2022)
2022-07-0160JOINT LETTER addressed to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang from AUSA Jean-David Barnea dated 7/1/22 re: Status of Settlement. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Barnea, Jean-David) (Entered: 07/01/2022)
2022-07-0561ORDER. The parties shall file a joint status letter by August 1, 2022. (HEREBY ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang) (Text Only Order) (sfh) (Entered: 07/05/2022)
2022-08-0162PROPOSED STIPULATION AND ORDER. Document filed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission..(Barnea, Jean-David) (Entered: 08/01/2022)
2022-08-0263STIPULATION AND ORDER OF SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSAL: IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, AGREED, and ORDERED as follows: CFTC will process and produce the following additional documents to Plaintiff: a. CFTC will withdraw its invocation of the deliberative process privilege as to documents it previously produced, and will re-produce any documents or portions of documents for which the prior withholding was based solely on this privilege (and not, for example, materials withheld under both this privilege and the attorney-client privilege).b. CFTC will search for and process documents dated August 20-21, 2019, subject to the following limitations: i. It will process these documents only to the extent they are responsive to parts 6, 7, or 8 of the FOIA Request; ii. It will process these documents through the agency's normal FOIA review process, will not prepare a supplemental Vaughn index, and will not produce redacted versions of records that are withheld in full; and iii. CFTC will assert the deliberative-process privilege as to these documents, in whole or in part, as permitted by law. 2. Plaintiff hereby abandons all other challenges to CFTC's search, Vaughn index, and with holdings in this case. 3. This action is hereby dismissed with prejudice, and without costs or fees, provided that the Court shall retain jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing this Stipulation and Order. Specifically, Plaintiff will not seek its attorney's fees or costs in this case pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(E). 4. The parties understand and agree that this Stipulation and Order contains the entire agreement between them, and that no statements, representations, promises, agreements, or negotiations, oral or otherwise, between the parties or their counsel that are not included herein shall be of any force or effect. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan on 8/2/2022) (jca) (Entered: 08/03/2022)
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