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Case TitleFree Sacred Trinity Church et al v. Internal Revenue Service
DistrictSouthern District of California
CitySan Diego
Case Number3:2019cv02358
Date Filed2019-12-09
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Thomas J. Whelan
PlaintiffFree Sacred Trinity Church a California nonprofit religious corporation
PlaintiffOptimum Health Institute- San Diego a California nonprofit religious corporation
Case DescriptionFree Sacred Trinity Church submitted a FOIA request to the IRS for records concerning the agency's letter to FSTC alleging that its tax-exempt status might have changed. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and asked for five extensions of time to respond to the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, FSTC then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantInternal Revenue Service
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-12-091COMPLAINT with Jury Demand against Internal Revenue Service ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0974-13250150.), filed by Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1-6) The new case number is 3:19-cv-02358-W-JLB. Judge Thomas J. Whelan and Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt are assigned to the case. (Hannink, James)(jxv) (sjt). (Entered: 12/10/2019)
2019-12-102Summons Issued. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should print this summons and serve it in accordance with Rule 4, Fed.R.Civ.P and LR 4.1. (jxv) (Entered: 12/10/2019)
2019-12-113NOTICE of Appearance by Paul Joseph Dostart on behalf of Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego (Dostart, Paul)Attorney Paul Joseph Dostart added to party Free Sacred Trinity Church(pty:pla), Attorney Paul Joseph Dostart added to party Optimum Health Institute- San Diego(pty:pla) (Entered: 12/11/2019)
2019-12-134NOTICE of Party With Financial Interest by Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego . Identifying Other Affiliate Optimum Health Institute - Austin, Other Affiliate Optimum Health Store, Other Affiliate Optimum Health Enterprises, Inc. for Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego. (Dostart, Paul) (mme). (Entered: 12/13/2019)
2019-12-135Corporate Disclosure Statement by Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego. No Corporate Parents/Interested Parties. (Dostart, Paul) (mme). (Entered: 12/13/2019)
2019-12-206SUMMONS Returned Executed by Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego. All Defendants served. (Dostart, Paul) (jdt). (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2020-01-157ANSWER to 1 Complaint, by Internal Revenue Service.(Sasarak, Stephanie)Attorney Stephanie Sasarak added to party Internal Revenue Service(pty:dft) (jdt). (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-01-218NOTICE AND ORDER: (1) For Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, (2) Setting Rule 26 Compliance and Case Management Conference. An Early Neutral Evaluation of your case will be held on 2/28/2020 at 9:00 AM in the Chambers of Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt. In the event the case does not settle at the ENE Conference, a Case Management Conference will be held at the conclusion of the ENE Conference. ENE Statements Required: On or before 2/18/2020. Submission of Magistrate Judge Consent Form: No later than 1/31/2020, each party shall provide Plaintiff's counsel with an executed copy of the attached consent form, titled Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge. If (and only if) all parties have consented to the reference to a magistrate judge, then Plaintiff shall file the consent form(s) in paper format at the Clerk's Office by 2/4/2020. The Rule 26(f) Conference shall be completed on or before 1/31/2020. The date of initial disclosure shall occur on or before 2/18/2020. A Joint Discovery Plan shall be filed on the CM/ECF system as well as lodged with Magistrate Judge Burkhardt on or before 2/18/2020. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt on 1/17/2020. (jdt) (Entered: 01/21/2020)
2020-01-229MINUTE ORDER by Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt: Due to a conflict in the Court's calendar, the Early Neutral Evaluation and Case Management Conferences previously set for 2/28/2020 (ECF No. 8 ) are hereby RESET for 3/4/2020 , at 1:45 PM in the chambers of Judge Burkhardt. Accordingly, the deadline to LODGE ENE Statements and the deadline to LODGE and FILE the Joint Discovery Plan are hereby RESET to 2/24/2020 . This Order does not otherwise alter the mandatory directions, dates, and deadlines set forth in the Court's 1/17/2020 Order (ECF No. 8 ). (no document attached) (mjg) (Entered: 01/22/2020)
2020-02-2410JOINT DISCOVERY PLAN by Internal Revenue Service (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jdt). (Entered: 02/24/2020)
2020-03-0411Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt: Early Neutral Evaluation Conference held on 3/4/2020. The case did not settle. Case Management Conference held on 3/4/2020. Scheduling Order to follow. (Plaintiff Attorney Paul J. Dostart; James T. Hannink) (Defendant Attorney Stephanie Sasarak) (Robert Nees, Jr.) (no document attached) (mjg) (Entered: 03/04/2020)
2020-03-0512SCHEDULING ORDER Following Case Management Conference. A Case Management Conference was held on 3/4/2020. Defendant's motion for summary judgment must be filed by 7/10/2020. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt on 3/5/2020. (jdt) (Entered: 03/05/2020)
2020-05-1513STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jdt). (Entered: 05/15/2020)
2020-05-1514Joint MOTION to Vacate joint motion to vacate or modify the deadlines in the scheduling order by Internal Revenue Service. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Sasarak, Stephanie). QC email: proposed order attached. No refile (jdt). (Entered: 05/15/2020)
2020-05-2015ORDER: 1) Granting Joint Motion to Amend Scheduling Order; and 2) Issuing Amended Scheduling Order (ECF Nos. 12 ; 14 )]. Defendant shall file a Status Report on 7/15/2020, providing the Court with an update on its record review efforts. Defendant shall file a Status Report on 9/1/2020, notifying the Court whether any records remain for review, and if so, when Defendant expects to finish its release of records. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt on 5/20/2020. (jdt) (Entered: 05/20/2020)
2020-07-1516STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jdt). (Entered: 07/15/2020)
2020-09-0117STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jdt). (Entered: 09/01/2020)
2020-09-0318MINUTE ORDER by Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt: A telephonic, counsel-only Status Conference re ECF No. 17 is hereby SET for 9/10/2020 , at 9:00 AM before Judge Burkhardt. For purposes of the Status Conference, all participating counsel shall call the Court's teleconference line at (877) 873-8018 and use access code 9930765. (no document attached) (mjg) (Entered: 09/03/2020)
2020-09-1019Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt: Telephonic, counsel-only Status Conference held on 9/10/2020. Order to follow. (Plaintiff Attorney Paul J. Dostart) (Defendant Attorney Stephanie Sasarak) (no document attached) (mjg) (Entered: 09/10/2020)
2020-09-1120ORDER. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt on 9/11/2020.(anh) (Main Document 20 replaced on 9/14/2020) (anh). (Entered: 09/14/2020)
2020-11-1021STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jdt). (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2021-01-1122STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jdt). (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-03-1223STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (sjt). (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-05-1124STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jrm). (Entered: 05/11/2021)
2021-07-1225STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jrm). (Entered: 07/12/2021)
2021-09-1026STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jrm). (Entered: 09/10/2021)
2021-11-0927STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie)(jrm). (Entered: 11/09/2021)
2021-11-2328NOTICE of Withdrawal of Counsel of James Hannick, Esq. by Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego (Jonna, Paul)Attorney Paul Michael Jonna added to party Free Sacred Trinity Church(pty:pla), Attorney Paul Michael Jonna added to party Optimum Health Institute- San Diego(pty:pla) QC Mailer, re contains wrong s/signature (dxf). (Entered: 11/23/2021)
2021-11-2429NOTICE OF APPEARANCE OR WITHDRAWAL OF COUNSEL - JAMES HANNICK, ESQ. by Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego (Dostart, Paul) (dxf). (Entered: 11/24/2021)
2022-01-1030STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (jrm). (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-02-1131NOTICE of Appearance by Mark D. Myers on behalf of Free Sacred Trinity Church, Optimum Health Institute- San Diego (Myers, Mark) (jrm). (Entered: 02/11/2022)
2022-03-1132STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (dlg). (Entered: 03/11/2022)
2022-04-2733NOTICE of Change of Address by Paul Joseph Dostart (Dostart, Paul) (dlg). (Entered: 04/27/2022)
2022-05-1034STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (dlg). (Entered: 05/10/2022)
2022-07-1135STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (dlg). (Entered: 07/11/2022)
2022-09-0936STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (dlg). (Entered: 09/09/2022)
2022-11-0837STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (dlg). (Entered: 11/08/2022)
2023-01-0938STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (Entered: 01/09/2023)
2023-01-0939*** WITHDRAWN PER ECF 40 *** STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) QC email re duplication of ecf 38. Attorney should withdraw (dlg). Modified on 1/11/2023 (dlg). (Entered: 01/09/2023)
2023-01-1040NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF DOCUMENT by Internal Revenue Service re 39 Status Report filed by Internal Revenue Service . (Sasarak, Stephanie) (Entered: 01/10/2023)
2023-03-1041STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 03/10/2023)
2023-05-0942STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 05/09/2023)
2023-07-2143MINUTE ORDER by Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt: Pursuant to the Court's 20 Order, a Status Report was due 7/10/2023. Defendant has not filed the requisite Status Report. Accordingly, Defendant shall file the Status Report no later than 7/21/2023 . (mjsn) (Entered: 07/21/2023)
2023-07-2444STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-07-2445NOTICE of Appearance by Moira Goodwin on behalf of Internal Revenue Service (Goodwin, Moira)Attorney Moira Goodwin added to party Internal Revenue Service(pty:dft) (exs). (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-09-0846STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 09/08/2023)
2023-11-0747STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 11/07/2023)
2024-01-0848STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 01/08/2024)
2024-03-0849STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-05-0750STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Sasarak, Stephanie) (exs). (Entered: 05/07/2024)
2024-07-0551STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 07/05/2024)
2024-09-0352STATUS REPORT by Internal Revenue Service. (Goodwin, Moira) (exs). (Entered: 09/03/2024)
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