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Case TitleCODREA v. BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv02201
Date Filed2021-08-18
Date Closed2022-09-13
JudgeJudge Rudolph Contreras
PlaintiffDAVID CODREA
Case DescriptionDavid Codrea, a blogger on Second Amendment issues, submitted a FOIA request to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for records concerning the investigation of an incident in which a gun belonging to Hunter Biden disappeared from his vehicle. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and initially told Codrea that it found no records. The agency withdrew its no records response and told Codrea that unless it he could show a public interest in disclosure, disclosure would violate Hunter Biden's privacy. Codrea argued that 22 House members wanted the investigation pursued. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Codrea filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantBUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES
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
Complaint attachment 9
Complaint attachment 10
Complaint attachment 11
Opinion/Order [12]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-08-181COMPLAINT against BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8675297) filed by DAVID CODREA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit ATF FOIA, # 2 Exhibit Acknowledgement Letter, # 3 Exhibit Final Response (first), # 4 Exhibit Final Response (second), # 5 Exhibit Letter to Siple, # 6 Exhibit ATF Appeal, # 7 Exhibit Appeal Denial, # 8 Summons Summons on AG, # 9 Summons Summons on ATF, # 10 Summons Summons on Civil Process Clerk, # 11 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet)(Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 08/18/2021)
2021-08-18Case Assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras. (adh, ) (Entered: 08/18/2021)
2021-08-182SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 08/18/2021)
2021-09-103RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/7/2021. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/7/2021.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES served on 9/7/2021, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 9/7/2021. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit USPS Delivery Confirmation, # 2 Exhibit USPS Delivery Confirmation, # 3 Exhibit USPS Delivery Confirmation)(Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 09/10/2021)
2021-10-064ANSWER to Complaint by BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES.(Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 10/06/2021)
2021-10-06MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and jointly submit a proposed briefing schedule on or before October 21, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 10/06/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 10/06/2021)
2021-10-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 10/21/2021. (zgdf) (Entered: 10/07/2021)
2021-10-145Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to File Briefing Schedule by DAVID CODREA. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 10/14/2021)
2021-10-14MINUTE ORDER granting 5 the parties' Joint Motion for Extension of Time: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and jointly submit a proposed briefing schedule on or before November 4, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 10/14/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 10/14/2021)
2021-11-046PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE by DAVID CODREA. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Stamboulieh, Stephen); Modified text and docketing event on 11/5/2021 (ztth). (Entered: 11/04/2021)
2021-11-047AMENDED PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE (filed jointly, correcting scrivener's error) by DAVID CODREA. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Stamboulieh, Stephen); Modified text and docketing event on 11/5/2021 (ztth). (Entered: 11/04/2021)
2021-11-04MINUTE ORDER granting 7 Amended Motion for Scheduling Order: Upon consideration of 7 the parties' Amended Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule, it is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule shall govern further proceedings in this case: Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before January 28, 2022; Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before March 4, 2022; and Defendant's Reply in support of its Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before March 25, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/04/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 11/04/2021)
2021-11-04MINUTE ORDER denying as moot 6 Motion for Briefing Schedule: On November 4, 2021, the Court Granted 7 the parties' Amended Joint Motion for Briefing Schedule. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that 6 the parties' Joint Motion for Briefing Schedule is DENIED as moot. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/04/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 11/04/2021)
2021-11-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motions due by 1/28/2022. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/4/2022. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/25/2022. (tj) (Entered: 11/05/2021)
2022-01-288MOTION for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support by BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit A and B to Declaration, # 3 Statement of Facts, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 01/28/2022)
2022-03-029RESPONSE re 8 MOTION for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support filed by DAVID CODREA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Stipulation of Secret Service Dismissal and Declaration, # 2 Statement of Facts Response to Statement of Facts, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Stamboulieh, Stephen) (Entered: 03/02/2022)
2022-03-2510REPLY to opposition to motion re 8 MOTION for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support filed by BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 03/25/2022)
2022-09-1311ORDER granting 8 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 9-13-2022. (lcrc3) (Entered: 09/13/2022)
2022-09-1312MEMORANDUM OPINION granting 8 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 9-13-2022. (lcrc3) (Entered: 09/13/2022)
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