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Case TitleAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv00932
Date Filed2021-04-06
Date Closed2023-12-22
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
Case DescriptionThe American Center for Law and Justice submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning alleged Chinese spy Christine Fang and her relationship with Rep. Eric Swalwell. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. ACLJ filed an administrative appeal after hearing nothing further from the agency. Having heard further, ACLJ filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-04-061COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8354252) filed by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons to FBI as party, # 2 Summons to US AG, # 3 Summons to US Attorney for DC, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Exhibit A to Complaint, # 6 Exhibit B to Complaint, # 7 Exhibit C to Complaint, # 8 Exhibit D to Complaint)(Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/06/2021)
2021-04-062NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin Paul Sisney on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/06/2021)
2021-04-063NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. Case related to Case No. 21-cv-333. (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/06/2021)
2021-04-064LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/06/2021)
2021-04-065NOTICE of Appearance by Stuart J. Roth on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Roth, Stuart) (Entered: 04/06/2021)
2021-04-06Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (adh, ) (Entered: 04/06/2021)
2021-04-066SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 04/06/2021)
2021-04-167ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 04/16/2021. (DM) (Entered: 04/16/2021)
2021-04-228RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/19/2021. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/19/2021. (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/22/2021)
2021-04-239RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 4/19/2021 (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/23/2021)
2021-04-2310RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 04/19/2021. (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/23/2021)
2021-05-1911ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.(von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 05/19/2021)
2021-05-2012ORDER. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on May 20, 2021. (lcckk1) (Entered: 05/20/2021)
2021-05-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Meet & Confer Statement due by 6/18/2021. (dot) (Entered: 05/20/2021)
2021-06-1813Joint STATUS REPORT and Proposed Briefing Schedule by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 06/18/2021)
2021-06-1914ORDER. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on June 19, 2021. (lcckk1) (Entered: 06/19/2021)
2021-06-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Summary Judgment Motion due by 9/10/2021. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/12/2021. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/1/2021. Plaintiff's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/12/2021. Response to Cross Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/1/2021. Reply to Cross Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/25/2021. (dot) (Entered: 06/21/2021)
2021-09-0215Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to Briefing Schedule for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 09/02/2021)
2021-09-0316ORDER granting 15 Motion for Extension of Time. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on September 3, 2021. (lcckk1) (Entered: 09/03/2021)
2021-09-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/19/2021. Response to Cross Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/18/2021. Reply to Cross Motion for Summary Judgment due by 12/2/2021. Defendant's Summary Judgment Motion due by 9/17/2021. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/19/2021. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/18/2021. (dot) (Entered: 09/07/2021)
2021-09-0917NOTICE of Appearance by John Monaghan on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 09/09/2021)
2021-09-1718MOTION for Summary Judgment by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration of Michael G. Seidel, # 4 Exhibit A - Application for Fee Waiver, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 09/17/2021)
2021-10-1919Memorandum in opposition to re 18 MOTION for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion filed by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration of Ben Sisney, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 10/19/2021)
2021-10-1920Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment (and opposition to Defendant's Motion) by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 10/19/2021)
2021-10-20NOTICE OF ERROR re 20 Motion for Summary Judgment; emailed to bsisney@aclj.org, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. In future, do not include the proposed order as main document; it should only be an attachment to the motion/document. (znmw, ) (Entered: 10/20/2021)
2021-11-1221Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to Summary Judgment Briefing by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-12MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 21 Joint Motion to Extend Deadlines for Summary Judgment. The parties state that they "inadvertently proposed two deadlines that fall on federal holidays." Mot. at 1, ECF No. 21. Those deadlines, the parties aver, do not "permit adequate time to prepare and respond to the summary-judgment briefing." Id. Accordingly, and upon good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant shall file its Reply in support of Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment on or before December 9, 2021 . It is further ORDERED that Plaintiff shall file its Reply in Support of Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment on or before December 30, 2021 . Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on November 12, 2021. (lcckk1) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 12/9/2021. Defendant's Response to Cross Motions due by 12/9/2021. Plaintiffy Reply to Cross Motions due by 12/30/2021. (zdot) (Entered: 11/16/2021)
2021-12-0822Joint MOTION to Stay Proceedings by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 12/08/2021)
2021-12-09MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court is the parties' 22 Joint Motion to Stay Proceedings, filed December 8, 2021. On November 12, 2021, the Court entered a Minute Order granting the parties' 21 Joint Motion for Extension of Time, further extending the deadlines to file summary judgment briefing. Pursuant to that Minute Order, Plaintiff's reply in support of its Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is due today, December 9, 2021. The parties now jointly ask the Court to stay this case because "the parties believe they made be able to resolve this dispute without further briefing or court action." Accordingly, and upon good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is STAYED until further order from the Court. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report, on or before January 7, 2022, informing the Court as to the status of the parties' settlement discussions. The parties are reminded that, to the extent that the instant Motion effectively asks for an extension of time to file summary judgment briefing, pursuant this Court's 7 Order Establishing Procedures for Cases Assigned to Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the parties must file requests for extensions of time no later than four business days prior to the deadline the parties seek to move. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on December 9, 2021. (lcckk1) (Entered: 12/09/2021)
2022-01-0723Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 01/07/2022)
2022-02-0724Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 02/07/2022)
2022-02-09MINUTE ORDER: Per the parties' suggestion in their 24 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report on or before March 9, 2022. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on February 9, 2022. (lcckk1) (Entered: 02/09/2022)
2022-02-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/9/2022. (dot) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-03-0825ENTERED IN ERROR.....NOTICE of Appearance by Madeline McMahon on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (McMahon, Madeline) Modified on 3/9/2022 (znmw). (Entered: 03/08/2022)
2022-03-09NOTICE OF ERROR re 25 Notice of Appearance; emailed to madeline.m.mcmahon@usdoj.gov, cc'd 5 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect header/caption/case number, 2. Please refile document, 3. ENTERED IN ERROR; Incorrect case number and caption; please refile. (znmw, ) (Entered: 03/09/2022)
2022-03-0926NOTICE of Appearance by Madeline McMahon on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 03/09/2022)
2022-03-0927Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 03/09/2022)
2022-04-1128Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 04/11/2022)
2022-04-12MINUTE ORDER: Per the parties' suggestion in their 28 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report on or before May 11, 2022 updating the Court on the status of their settlement discussions and, if necessary, every thirty days thereafter. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on April 12, 2022. (lcckk1) (Entered: 04/12/2022)
2022-04-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/11/2022, updating the Court on the status of their settlement discussions. (dot) (Entered: 04/12/2022)
2022-05-0529NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. Attorney Jordan Landrum Von Bokern terminated. (Von Bokern, Jordan) (Entered: 05/05/2022)
2022-05-1130Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 05/11/2022)
2022-06-1031Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 06/10/2022)
2022-07-1132Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 07/11/2022)
2022-08-1133Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 08/11/2022)
2022-09-1234Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 09/12/2022)
2022-10-1235Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-11-1036Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 11/10/2022)
2022-12-1237Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 12/12/2022)
2023-01-1138Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 01/11/2023)
2023-02-1039Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 02/10/2023)
2023-03-1340Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 03/13/2023)
2023-04-1241Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 04/12/2023)
2023-05-1242Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 05/12/2023)
2023-07-1143Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 07/11/2023)
2023-07-12MINUTE ORDER: Per the parties' representations that this case is close to resolution, this case remains stayed until further order of the Court. The parties shall file their next Joint Status Report on 9/7/2023, if the case has not been dismissed prior thereto. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 7/12/23. (DM) (Entered: 07/12/2023)
2023-09-0744Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 09/07/2023)
2023-11-16MINUTE ORDER: Per the Court's July 12, 2023 minute order, the parties' latest joint status report was due November 6, 2023. No status report has been filed. As such, the parties shall file their next joint status report on or before November 20, 2023 and, if necessary, another joint status report every sixty days thereafter. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on November 16, 2023. (lcckk1) (Entered: 11/16/2023)
2023-11-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/20/2023 and, if necessary, another joint status report every sixty days thereafter. (dot) (Entered: 11/16/2023)
2023-11-2045Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 11/20/2023)
2023-12-2246STIPULATION of Dismissal by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (McMahon, Madeline) (Entered: 12/22/2023)
2023-12-2247ORDER DISMISSING CASE WITH PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on December 22, 2023. (lcckk1) (Entered: 12/22/2023)
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