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Case TitleLEOPOLD et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv01037
Date Filed2021-04-14
Date Closed2023-03-13
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffJASON LEOPOLD
PlaintiffBUZZFEED INC.
Case DescriptionBuzzFeed reporter Jason Leopold submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning a report to former Attorney General William Barr from U.S. Attorney John Bash pertaining to whether former Obama administration officials had improperly requested the unmasking of identities of individuals in intelligence reports. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. Leopold asked the agency for an estimated date of completion. The agency told Leopold it could provide such an estimate. Leopold then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-04-141COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8374975) filed by JASON LEOPOLD, BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1-4, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-142NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-143LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 04/14/2021)
2021-04-15Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (znmg) (Entered: 04/15/2021)
2021-04-154SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 04/15/2021)
2021-05-255RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 5/3/2021 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/25/2021)
2021-05-256RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/3/2021. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/2/2021. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/25/2021)
2021-05-257RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 05/03/2021. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/25/2021)
2021-06-028ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-119Amended ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 06/11/2021)
2021-06-24MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. According to Local Civil Rule 16.3, the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) are inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report by July 22, 2021 . The Joint Status Report shall address: (1) the status of Plaintiffs' FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiffs' FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiffs; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); (5) the possibility of prioritizing documents responsive to Plaintiffs' requests and any discussions regarding whether Plaintiffs' requests can be narrowed; and (6) whether the Parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 24, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 06/24/2021)
2021-06-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/22/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 06/24/2021)
2021-07-2010Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 07/20/2021)
2021-08-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall file another Joint Status Report by September 7, 2021 , and every 30 days thereafter until this matter is resolved. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 10, 2021. (lccjn3) (Entered: 08/10/2021)
2021-08-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/7/2021. (zcal) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
2021-09-0711Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 09/07/2021)
2021-10-0712Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 10/07/2021)
2021-11-0813Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 11/08/2021)
2021-12-0814Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 12/08/2021)
2022-01-0715Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 01/07/2022)
2022-02-0716Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 02/07/2022)
2022-02-15MINUTE ORDER. The Court has reviewed the Parties' 16 Joint Status Report. In light of Defendant's anticipated completion date of May 31, 2022 regarding the Report at issue, the Court DENIES Plaintiff's request to enter an Order compelling Defendant's final determination in 30 days. The Court will be open to such a motion should Defendant fail to comply with its own anticipated deadline. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on February 15, 2022. (lccjn3) (Entered: 02/15/2022)
2022-03-0917NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 03/09/2022)
2022-03-0918Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 03/09/2022)
2022-04-0819Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Taylor, Kristin) (Entered: 04/08/2022)
2022-04-1120NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kevin Joseph Wynosky on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Kristin Taylor (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 04/11/2022)
2022-05-0921Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 05/09/2022)
2022-06-0922Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 06/09/2022)
2022-07-0823Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 07/08/2022)
2022-08-0824Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 08/08/2022)
2022-09-0725Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 09/07/2022)
2022-10-0726Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 10/07/2022)
2022-11-0727Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 11/07/2022)
2022-12-0728Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 12/07/2022)
2023-01-0629Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 01/06/2023)
2023-02-0630ENTERED IN ERROR.....Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) Modified on 2/7/2023 (zed). (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-02-07NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 30 Status Report. The following error(s) need correction: Invalid attorney signature- signature on document must match PACER login. Please refile. (zed) (Entered: 02/07/2023)
2023-02-0731Joint STATUS REPORT (Refiled with Corrected Signatures) by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 02/07/2023)
2023-02-2732NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 02/27/2023)
2023-03-0933STIPULATION of Dismissal by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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