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Case TitleMORRISON URENA, L.C. v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv02649
Date Filed2021-10-08
Date Closed2024-01-04
JudgeJudge John D. Bates
PlaintiffMORRISON URENA, L.C.
formerly known as LAW OFFICE OF RAFAEL URENA
formerly known as LAW OFFICE OF CURTIS MORRISON
Case DescriptionThe law firm of Morrison Urena LC submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning the reasons for halting the Diversity Visa 2020 program. Morrison Urena also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and denied Morrison Urena's request for expedited processing. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Morrison Urena filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Failure to respond within statutory time limit

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-10-081COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8791048) filed by MORRISON URENA, L.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Summons, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet)(Morrison, Curtis) (Entered: 10/08/2021)
2021-10-082NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by MORRISON URENA, L.C.. Case related to Case No. 21-cv-2645. (Morrison, Curtis) (Entered: 10/08/2021)
2021-10-12NOTICE OF ERROR re 1 Complaint; emailed to curtis@curtismorrisonlaw.com, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Noncompliance with LCvR 5.1(c). Please file an errata correcting the initiating pleading to include the name & full residence address of each party using the event Errata., 2. Missing/incorrect summonses. Please submit using the event Request for Summons to issue., 3. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zsb, ) (Entered: 10/12/2021)
2021-10-123ERRATA by MORRISON URENA, L.C. re 1 Complaint, filed by MORRISON URENA, L.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Caption)(Morrison, Curtis) (Entered: 10/12/2021)
2021-10-124REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE re 1 Complaint, filed by MORRISON URENA, L.C.. Related document: 1 Complaint, filed by MORRISON URENA, L.C..(Morrison, Curtis) (Entered: 10/12/2021)
2021-10-14Case Assigned to Judge John D. Bates. (zsb) (Entered: 10/14/2021)
2021-10-185SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Main Document 5 replaced on 10/26/2021) (adh, ). (Entered: 10/18/2021)
2021-11-016RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/26/2021. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/25/2021. (Morrison, Curtis) (Entered: 11/01/2021)
2021-11-017RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/26/2021. (See Docket Entry 6 to view document). (znmw) (Entered: 11/01/2021)
2021-11-268ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 11/26/2021)
2021-11-299ORDER. See text of Order for details. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/29/2021. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 11/29/2021)
2021-11-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed schedule for the processing and release of responsive records and/or a briefing schedule due by 12/29/2021. (tb) (Entered: 11/29/2021)
2021-12-2910Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 12/29/2021)
2021-12-30MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 10 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report by not later than February 28, 2022, detailing the results of defendant's initial search for responsive records; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall confer and submit by not later than February 28, 2022, an additional proposed schedule for processing and/or a briefing schedule for the filing of dispositive motions to resolve this matter. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 12/30/2021. (lcjdb1) Modified on 12/30/2021 to reflect the correct document number for the status report (jth). (Entered: 12/30/2021)
2021-12-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report and Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 2/28/2022. (jth) (Entered: 12/30/2021)
2022-02-2811Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-03-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 11 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report by not later than April 29, 2022, detailing the progress of defendant's initial production of responsive records and any further communications between the parties regarding the scope of plaintiff's request. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 3/1/2022. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 03/01/2022)
2022-03-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/28/2022. (tb) (Entered: 03/08/2022)
2022-04-2912NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen DeGenaro on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-04-2913Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-04-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 13 the joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further joint status report by not later than June 28, 2022, informing the Court of defendants progress on producing the remaining records; it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file joint status reports every sixty days thereafter, until the completion of processing. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 04/29/2022. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-05-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/28/2022. (tb) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-06-2814Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 06/28/2022)
2022-07-0815NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. Attorney Stephen DeGenaro terminated. (DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 07/08/2022)
2022-08-2516Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 08/25/2022)
2022-09-0817NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Thomas Duffey on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Substituting for attorney Michael A. Tilghman II (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 09/08/2022)
2022-10-2518Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 10/25/2022)
2022-12-2219Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/22/2022)
2023-02-2320Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-04-2521Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 04/25/2023)
2023-06-2622Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-08-1823Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 08/18/2023)
2023-08-22MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 23 the joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a notice of voluntary dismissal or a further joint status report informing the Court of the status of fee negotiations by not later than September 27, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 8/22/2023. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 08/22/2023)
2023-08-23Set/Reset Deadlines : Parties to file a notice of voluntary dismissal or a further joint status report informing the Court of the status of fee negotiations by 9/27/2023. (kk) (Entered: 08/23/2023)
2023-09-2724Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 09/27/2023)
2023-09-27MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 24 the joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report informing the Court of the status of fee negotiations by not later than November 27, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 9/27/2023. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 09/27/2023)
2023-09-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/27/2023. (zed) (Entered: 09/28/2023)
2023-11-2725Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 11/27/2023)
2023-11-27MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 25 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report informing the Court of the status of fee negotiations by not later than January 26, 2024. The Court expects that the parties will complete their discussions in advance of the 1/26/2024 status report and will advise the Court either that the case is resolved or of a briefing schedule for judicial resolution of the fees issue. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/27/2023. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 11/27/2023)
2024-01-0426STIPULATION of Dismissal by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF INFORMATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 01/04/2024)
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