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Case TitleLEOPOLD et al v. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv01533
Date Filed2021-06-07
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Rudolph Contreras
PlaintiffJASON LEOPOLD
PlaintiffBUZZFEED INC.
Case DescriptionBuzzFeed reporter Jason Leopold submitted three FOIA requests to the Defense Intelligence Agency for records concerning investigations and closing documents. Two of the FOIA requests had originally been submitted years ago but were referenced in a DIA response to Leopold about eight outstanding requests. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Leopold filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DefendantDEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-06-071COMPLAINT against DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8507340) filed by JASON LEOPOLD, BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex A-E, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/07/2021)
2021-06-072NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/07/2021)
2021-06-07Case Assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras. (adh, ) (Entered: 06/07/2021)
2021-06-073SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 06/07/2021)
2021-06-074LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/07/2021)
2021-06-295NOTICE of Appearance by Marsha Wellknown Yee on behalf of All Defendants (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 06/29/2021)
2021-07-226ANSWER to Complaint by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/22/2021)
2021-07-22MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and jointly submit a proposed briefing schedule on or before August 5, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 7/22/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 07/22/2021)
2021-08-057Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/05/2021)
2021-08-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 7 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before October 6, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 8/5/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 08/05/2021)
2021-10-068Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 10/06/2021)
2021-10-06MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 8 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before January 20, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 10/06/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 10/06/2021)
2021-10-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report on or before 1/20/2022. (zgdf) (Entered: 10/07/2021)
2022-01-209Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 01/20/2022)
2022-01-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 9 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before April 14, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 01/20/2022. (lcrc1) (Entered: 01/20/2022)
2022-04-1310NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 04/13/2022)
2022-04-1411Joint STATUS REPORT by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 04/14/2022)
2022-04-14MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 11 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before July 14, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 04/14/2022. (lcrc1) (Entered: 04/14/2022)
2022-07-1312Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File July 14, 2022, Joint Status Report by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/13/2022)
2022-07-13MINUTE ORDER granting 12 Defendants' Consent Motion for Extension of Time: It is hereby ORDERED that the time for the parties to file a joint status report is extended to and including July 21, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 7-13-2022. (lcrc3) (Entered: 07/13/2022)
2022-07-2113Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
2022-07-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 13 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before September 9, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 07/21/2022. (lcrc1) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
2022-09-0914Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 09/09/2022)
2022-09-09MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 14 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before December 8, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 09/09/2022. (lcrc1) (Entered: 09/09/2022)
2022-12-0815Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 12/08/2022)
2022-12-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 15 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before March 9, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 12/21/2022. (lcrc1) (Entered: 12/21/2022)
2023-02-2116NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 02/21/2023)
2023-02-22RESOLVED...NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD (Wayne, Merrick), Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 3/1/2023. (zbaj) Modified on 2/23/2023 (znmw). Modified on 3/2/2023 (zbaj). (Entered: 02/22/2023)
2023-03-0917Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
2023-03-09MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 17 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before July 13, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 3/9/2023. (lcrc1) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
2023-03-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 7/13/2023. (tj) (Entered: 03/10/2023)
2023-07-1318Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/13/2023)
2023-07-13MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 18 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before November 15, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 7/13/2023. (lcrc3) (Entered: 07/13/2023)
2023-07-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 11/15/2023 (tj) (Entered: 07/14/2023)
2023-11-1519Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 11/15/2023)
2023-11-15MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 19 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before March 14, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/15/2023. (lcrc1) (Entered: 11/15/2023)
2024-02-1020NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Diana Viggiano Valdivia on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Marsha Wellknown Yee (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 02/10/2024)
2024-02-2321Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by BUZZFEED INC., JASON LEOPOLD. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 02/23/2024)
2024-02-23MINUTE ORDER granting 21 Plaintiffs' Consent Motion for Extension of Time: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties' joint status report shall be filed on or before March 21, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 2/23/2024. (lcrc1) (Entered: 02/23/2024)
2024-03-1222NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kimberly Stratton on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Diana Valdivia (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/12/2024)
2024-03-2123Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/21/2024)
2024-03-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 23 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before July 11, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 3/21/2024. (lcrc1) (Entered: 03/21/2024)
2024-07-1024Joint STATUS REPORT by DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 07/10/2024)
2024-07-10MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 24 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before November 8, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 7/10/2024. (lcrc1) (Entered: 07/10/2024)
2024-11-0825Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 11/08/2024)
2024-11-08MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 25 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before March 7, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/8/2024. (lcrc1) (Entered: 11/08/2024)
2025-02-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 3/7/2025 (tj) (Entered: 02/07/2025)
2025-03-0726Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/07/2025)
2025-03-07MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 26 the parties' joint status report, the parties are HEREBY ORDERED to submit another joint status report on or before July 7, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 3/7/2025. (lcrc1) (Entered: 03/07/2025)
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