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Case TitleCITIZENS UNITED v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv03762
Date Filed2020-12-21
Date Closed2022-04-25
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffCITIZENS UNITED
Case DescriptionCitizens United submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning communications between the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine referencing Burisma, Hunter Biden, and others. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told Citizens United that it qualified for unusual circumstances. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Citizens United filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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

2020-12-211COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-7983201) filed by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Summons to the Attorney General, # 5 Summons to the State Dep't, # 6 Summons to the US Attorney)(Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-21Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (adh, ) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-212SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2020-12-213LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CITIZENS UNITED (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2021-02-224NOTICE of Appearance by Tanya D. Senanayake on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Senanayake, Tanya) (Entered: 02/22/2021)
2021-02-225ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 2)(Senanayake, Tanya) (Entered: 02/22/2021)
2021-02-23MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by March 9, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/23/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/23/2021)
2021-02-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 3/9/2021 (lsj) (Entered: 02/24/2021)
2021-03-096PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE (Jointly Filed by Parties) by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Senanayake, Tanya) (Entered: 03/09/2021)
2021-03-12MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 6 Proposed Briefing Schedule, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a joint status report by May 17, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/12/2021. (lccrc1) Modified on 3/23/2021 (lsj). (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-257NOTICE of Appearance by Alexander V. Sverdlov on behalf of All Defendants (Sverdlov, Alexander) (Entered: 03/25/2021)
2021-03-258NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. Attorney Tanya D. Senanayake terminated. (Senanayake, Tanya) (Entered: 03/25/2021)
2021-05-179Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Sverdlov, Alexander) (Entered: 05/17/2021)
2021-05-24MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 9 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report by June 18, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/24/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/24/2021)
2021-06-2110Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 06/21/2021)
2021-06-24MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 10 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report by July 21, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/24/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/24/2021)
2021-07-2111Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 07/21/2021)
2021-07-23MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 11 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report by August 19, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 7/23/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 07/23/2021)
2021-08-1912Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 08/19/2021)
2021-09-01MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by September 22, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/1/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 09/01/2021)
2021-09-2213Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 09/22/2021)
2021-09-24MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before October 22, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/24/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 09/24/2021)
2021-09-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/22/2021. (znbn) (Entered: 09/24/2021)
2021-10-2514Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 10/25/2021)
2021-10-27MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before November 22, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/27/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/27/2021)
2021-11-2215Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 11/22/2021)
2021-11-22MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before December 22, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/22/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 11/22/2021)
2021-12-2216Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 12/22/2021)
2021-12-23MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before January 24, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/23/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 12/23/2021)
2022-01-2417Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 01/24/2022)
2022-01-25MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 17 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before February 24, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/24/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/25/2022)
2022-02-2418Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 02/24/2022)
2022-02-25MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 18 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before March 24, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/24/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/25/2022)
2022-03-2419Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 03/24/2022)
2022-03-28MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 19 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before April 24, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/28/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 03/28/2022)
2022-04-2220STIPULATION of Dismissal by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 04/22/2022)
2022-04-25MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 20 Stipulation of Dismissal, it is hereby ordered that this case is DISMISSED. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/25/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/25/2022)
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