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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv01538
Date Filed2020-06-11
Date Closed2022-10-27
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted three FOIA requests to the Department of Justice for records concerning Attorney General William Barr's meetings and communications. The agency acknowledged receipt of the three requests. However, after hearing nothing further from the agency pertaining to any of its requests, American Oversight file suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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

2020-06-111COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7220113) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 06/11/2020)
2020-06-112LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 06/11/2020)
2020-06-12Case assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zmc) (Entered: 06/12/2020)
2020-06-123SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmc) (Entered: 06/12/2020)
2020-06-124MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Megan Field, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-7224130. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 06/12/2020)
2020-06-15MINUTE ORDER granting 4 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney Megan Catherine Field is hereby admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions . Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 6/15/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 06/15/2020)
2020-06-175NOTICE of Appearance by Megan Field on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Field, Megan) (Entered: 06/17/2020)
2020-06-246RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/22/2020. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/22/2020.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 06/22/20., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 6/22/2020 (Field, Megan) (Entered: 06/24/2020)
2020-07-227NOTICE of Appearance by Cormac A. Early on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Early, Cormac) (Main Document 7 replaced on 7/23/2020) (zeg). (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-07-228ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Early, Cormac) (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-07-229ORDER. Both a Complaint and an Answer are now before the court in this FOIA case. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before August 5, 2020. See the attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 7/22/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-07-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/5/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 07/23/2020)
2020-08-0510Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 08/05/2020)
2020-08-06MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before September 14, 2020, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's search for and processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 8/6/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 08/06/2020)
2020-08-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/14/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 08/06/2020)
2020-09-0211NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Megan Field terminated. (Field, Megan) (Entered: 09/02/2020)
2020-09-1412Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 09/14/2020)
2020-09-15MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before October 14, 2020, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's search for and processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 9/15/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
2020-09-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/14/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 09/16/2020)
2020-10-1413Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 10/14/2020)
2020-10-15MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before November 16, 2020, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's search for and processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/15/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 10/15/2020)
2020-10-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/16/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 10/16/2020)
2020-11-1614Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 11/16/2020)
2020-11-17MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before December 18, 2020, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's search for and processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 11/17/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 11/17/2020)
2020-11-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/18/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 11/19/2020)
2020-12-1815Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2020-12-21MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before February 25, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's search for and processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/21/2020. (lcapm1) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/25/2021. (zjd) (Entered: 12/23/2020)
2021-02-2516Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 02/25/2021)
2021-02-28MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before April 1, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 2/28/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 02/28/2021)
2021-04-0117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 04/01/2021)
2021-04-01MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before May 5, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 4/1/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/01/2021)
2021-04-2818NOTICE of Appearance by Katherine Marie Anthony on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Anthony, Katherine) (Entered: 04/28/2021)
2021-04-2919NOTICE of Appearance by Khahilia Y. Shaw on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-04-2920NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Daniel Alexander McGrath terminated. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-05-0521Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 05/05/2021)
2021-05-06MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before June 15, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 5/6/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/06/2021)
2021-06-1522Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-17MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before July 20, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 6/17/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 06/17/2021)
2021-07-2023Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 07/20/2021)
2021-07-21MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before September 2, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 7/21/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 07/21/2021)
2021-08-3024Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 08/30/2021)
2021-08-31MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before November 1, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 8/31/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 08/31/2021)
2021-11-0125Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 11/01/2021)
2021-11-01MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before December 10, 2021, that updates the court with respect to Defendant's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 11/01/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 11/01/2021)
2021-12-1026Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 12/10/2021)
2021-12-13MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before February 7, 2022, that updates the court with respect to the status of this matter, and, if appropriate, offers a proposal for a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/13/2021. (lcapm1) (Entered: 12/13/2021)
2022-02-0727Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 02/07/2022)
2022-02-08MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before March 14, 2022, that updates the court with respect to the status of this matter, and, if appropriate, offers a proposal for a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 2/8/2022. (lcapm1) (Entered: 02/08/2022)
2022-03-1428Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-14MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before April 14, 2022, that updates the court with respect to the status of this matter, and, if appropriate, offers a proposal for a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 3/14/2022. (lcapm1) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-04-1429STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 04/14/2022)
2022-04-18MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before May 16, 2022, that updates the court with respect to the status of this matter, and, if appropriate, offers a proposal for a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 4/18/2022. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/18/2022)
2022-05-1630Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 05/16/2022)
2022-05-16MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before July 15, 2022, that updates the court with respect to the status of this matter, and, if appropriate, offers a proposal for a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 5/16/2022. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/16/2022)
2022-07-1531Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Early, Cormac) (Entered: 07/15/2022)
2022-07-17MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before September 16, 2022, that updates the court with respect to the status of this matter, and, if appropriate, offers a proposal for a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 7/17/2022. (lcapm1) (Entered: 07/17/2022)
2022-08-1232NOTICE of Appearance by Jason C. Lynch on behalf of All Defendants (Lynch, Jason) (Entered: 08/12/2022)
2022-09-1633Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Lynch, Jason) (Entered: 09/16/2022)
2022-09-17MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before October 27, 2022, that updates the court with respect to the status of this matter, and, if appropriate, offers a proposal for a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 9/17/2022. (lcapm1) (Entered: 09/17/2022)
2022-10-2734STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 10/27/2022)
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