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Case TitleCENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv03033
Date Filed2020-10-21
Date Closed2021-07-14
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffCENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Case DescriptionThe Center for Biological Diversity submitted a FOIA request to the EPA for records concerning communications involving EPA employee Jeffrey Sands, a former lobbyist for Syngenta, pertaining to triazine herbicides. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, CBD filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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

2020-10-211COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7739552) filed by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons William Barr, Attorney General, # 3 Summons Environmental Protection Agency, # 4 Summons United States Attorney)(Evans, Jonathan) (Entered: 10/21/2020)
2020-10-212LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Evans, Jonathan) (Entered: 10/21/2020)
2020-10-21Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (adh, ) (Entered: 10/21/2020)
2020-10-213SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 10/21/2020)
2020-11-124RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY served on 10/29/2020 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Delivery Confirmation)(Evans, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
2020-11-125RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/30/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Delivery Confirmation)(Evans, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
2020-11-126RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/30/2020. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/29/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Delivery Confirmation)(Evans, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/12/2020)
2020-11-307NOTICE of Appearance by Kathleene A. Molen on behalf of All Defendants (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 11/30/2020)
2020-11-308ANSWER to Complaint by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.(Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 11/30/2020)
2020-12-01MINUTE ORDER. 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 December 14, 2020. The Joint Status Report shall include (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/1/2020. (lcapm2) (Entered: 12/01/2020)
2020-12-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/14/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 12/01/2020)
2020-12-149Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 12/14/2020)
2020-12-15MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by February 15, 2021, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/15/2020. (lcapm2) (Entered: 12/15/2020)
2020-12-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/15/2021. (zjd) (Entered: 12/15/2020)
2021-02-1210Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 02/12/2021)
2021-02-15MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by March 29, 2021, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 2/15/2021. (lcapm2) (Entered: 02/15/2021)
2021-03-2911Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 03/29/2021)
2021-03-31MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by May 13, 2021, which advises whether any disputed issues remain and, if so, proposes a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 3/31/2021. (lcapm2) (Entered: 03/31/2021)
2021-05-1312Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 05/13/2021)
2021-05-13MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by June 27, 2021, advising on negotiations relating to fees and costs, unless the parties file a stipulation of dismissal before that date. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 5/13/2021. (lcapm2) (Entered: 05/13/2021)
2021-06-2313Joint STATUS REPORT by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 06/23/2021)
2021-06-24MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by July 23, 2021, advising on negotiations relating to fees and costs, unless the parties file a stipulation of dismissal before that date. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 6/24/2021. (lcapm2) (Entered: 06/24/2021)
2021-07-1414STIPULATION of Dismissal by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 07/14/2021)
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