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Case TitleAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv01032
Date Filed2021-04-14
Date Closed2024-04-24
JudgeChief Judge James E. Boasberg
PlaintiffAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
Case DescriptionThe American Center for Law and Justice submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning the agency's knowledge of alleged shadow diplomacy conducted by former Secretary of State John Kerry with Iran while he was not an official representative of the U.S. government. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, ACLJ 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

2021-04-141COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8373698) filed by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A to Complaint, # 2 Exhibit B to Complaint, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons to U.S. Department of State, # 5 Summons to U.S. Attorney General, # 6 Summons to U.S. Attorney for D.C.)(Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-142NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin Paul Sisney on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-143LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-14Case Assigned to Judge James E. Boasberg. (adh, ) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-144SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-225RETURN 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)
2021-04-236RETURN 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)
2021-04-307RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 4/27/2021 (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/30/2021)
2021-05-018NOTICE of Appearance by Stephanie R. Johnson on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 05/01/2021)
2021-05-199ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 05/19/2021)
2021-06-1010NOTICE of Appearance by Stuart J. Roth on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Roth, Stuart) (Entered: 06/10/2021)
2021-07-30MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall confer and submit a joint proposed briefing schedule by August 13, 2021. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 7/30/2021. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
2021-07-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 8/13/2021. (znbn) (Entered: 08/02/2021)
2021-08-1111NOTICE of Appearance by John Monaghan on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
2021-08-1212Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/12/2021)
2021-08-12MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 12 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by October 12, 2021. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 8/12/2021. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 08/12/2021)
2021-08-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/12/2021 (lsj) (Entered: 08/13/2021)
2021-10-1213Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/12/2021)
2021-10-12MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 13 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by December 13, 2021. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 10/12/2021. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 10/12/2021)
2021-10-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/13/2021. (znbn) (Entered: 10/12/2021)
2021-12-1014Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 12/10/2021)
2021-12-10MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 14 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by February 11, 2022. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 12/10/2021. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 12/10/2021)
2021-12-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/11/2022 (lsj) (Entered: 12/10/2021)
2022-02-1015Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-02-10MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 15 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by April 12, 2022. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 2/10/2022. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-02-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 4/12/2022. (znbn) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-04-1116Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 04/11/2022)
2022-04-11MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 16 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by June 13, 2022. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 4/11/2022. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 04/11/2022)
2022-04-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 6/13/2022. (nbn) (Entered: 04/11/2022)
2022-06-1317Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 06/13/2022)
2022-06-14MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 17 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by August 12, 2022. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 6/14/2022. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 06/14/2022)
2022-06-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/12/2022 (lsj) (Entered: 06/14/2022)
2022-08-0418Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/04/2022)
2022-08-05MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 18 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by October 11, 2022. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 8/5/2022. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 08/05/2022)
2022-08-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/11/2022 (lsj) (Entered: 08/09/2022)
2022-10-1019Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/10/2022)
2022-10-11MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 19 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by December 11, 2022. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 10/11/2022. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/11/2022. (nbn) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-12-0520Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 12/05/2022)
2022-12-05MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 20 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by February 7, 2023. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 12/5/2022. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 12/05/2022)
2022-12-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/7/2023. (nbn) (Entered: 12/05/2022)
2023-02-0621Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-02-06MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 21 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by May 8, 2023. So ORDERED by Judge James E. Boasberg on 2/6/2023. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-02-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/8/2023. (nbn) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-04-2722Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-04-27MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 22 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by August 7, 2023. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on 4/27/2023. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-04-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/7/2023. (nbn) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-07-2223Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 07/22/2023)
2023-07-24MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 23 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by November 6, 2023. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on 07/24/2023. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-07-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/6/2023. (nbn) (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-11-0624Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2023-11-06MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 24 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by February 5, 2024. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on 11/06/2023. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2023-11-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/5/2024. (znbn) (Entered: 11/07/2023)
2024-02-0725Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/07/2024)
2024-02-07MINUTE ORDER: The Court ADOPTS the parties' 25 Joint Status Report and ORDERS that they shall file a further joint status report by May 6, 2024. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on 2/7/2024. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 02/07/2024)
2024-02-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/6/2024 (lsj) (Entered: 02/07/2024)
2024-04-2426STIPULATION of Dismissal by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 04/24/2024)
2024-04-24MINUTE ORDER: Per the parties' 26 Stipulation, the Court ORDERS that the case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on 4/24/2024. (lcjeb3) (Entered: 04/24/2024)
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