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Case TitleDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03810
Date Filed2019-12-23
Date Closed2020-11-06
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionDemocracy Forward Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Interior for records concerning communications between certain government employees. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Democracy Forward Foundation filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-12-231COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6671313) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 12/23/2019)
2019-12-232LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 12/23/2019)
2019-12-26Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (adh, ) (Entered: 12/26/2019)
2019-12-263SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 12/26/2019)
2020-01-064RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 12/30/2019, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 12/30/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 12/30/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 1/29/2020.) (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 01/06/2020)
2020-01-295ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 01/29/2020)
2020-01-29MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for disclosure or briefing by February 13, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/29/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/29/2020)
2020-02-116Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 02/11/2020)
2020-02-19MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 6 Joint Status Report, the parties are ordered to file a further status report by March 31, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/19/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/19/2020)
2020-02-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/31/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 02/19/2020)
2020-03-317Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 03/31/2020)
2020-04-01MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 7 Joint Status Report, the parties are ORDERED to file a further status report by April 30, 2020, proposing a briefing schedule for summary judgment motions on any disputed issues. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/1/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/01/2020)
2020-04-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/30/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 04/02/2020)
2020-04-308Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 04/30/2020)
2020-04-309MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, the parties are ORDERED to file a further status report by June 2, 2020. If any disputes remain summary judgment briefing will proceed as follows: Defendant's Vaughn Index is due June 16, 2020; Defendant's motion for summary judgment is due July 2, 2020; Plaintiff's combined cross-motion for summary judgment and opposition is due July 23, 2020; Defendant's combined opposition and reply is due August 13, 2020; and Plaintiff's final reply is due August 27, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/30/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/30/2020)
2020-05-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 6/2/2020. Vaughn Index due by 6/16/2020. Summary Judgment motions due by 7/2/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 7/23/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 8/13/2020. Replies due by 8/27/2020. (lsj) (Entered: 05/01/2020)
2020-06-0210Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 06/02/2020)
2020-06-03MINUTE ORDER: The parties are directed to file a further joint status report by June 8, 2020, clarifying how the government can review the estimated 13,000 potentially responsive records at a rate of 500 pages per month and complete the production by October 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/3/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/03/2020)
2020-06-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/8/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 06/04/2020)
2020-06-0411Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 06/04/2020)
2020-06-10MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 10 and 11 Joint Status Reports, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further status report by August 3, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/10/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/10/2020)
2020-06-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 8/3/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 06/11/2020)
2020-06-1512Consent MOTION to Clarify June 10, 2020 Order Or, Alternatively , Consent MOTION to Vacate Briefing Schedule by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 06/15/2020)
2020-06-15MINUTE ORDER granting 12 Motion to Clarify; granting 12 Motion to Vacate: The schedule for summary judgment briefing set forth in the Court's April 30, 2020 Minute Order, including the deadline for production by Defendant of a Vaughn Index to Plaintiff, is hereby VACATED. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/15/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/15/2020)
2020-08-0313Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-08-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, the parties are ORDERED to file a further status report by October 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/3/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-08-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 10/5/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-10-0514Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 10/05/2020)
2020-10-06MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 14 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a Joint Status Report by November 5, 2020, identifying what issues, if any, remain in this matter and proposing a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/6/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-10-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/5/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-11-0515STIPULATION of Dismissal by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 11/05/2020)
2020-11-06MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 15 Stipulation of Dismissal, this case is hereby dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/6/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 11/06/2020)
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