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Case TitleWILDERNESS WORKSHOP v. U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv01216
Date Filed2022-05-02
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffWILDERNESS WORKSHOP
Case DescriptionThe Wilderness Workshop submitted a FOIA request to the Bureau of Land Management for records concerning the Trail Gulch Unit and associated oil and gas leases within the North Fork Mancos Master Development Plan. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency provided four interim releases of records but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Wilderness Workshop filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT an agency of the United States
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR an agency of the United States
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR an agency of the United States
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

2022-05-021COMPLAINT against WILDERNESS WORKSHOP ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9208015) filed by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit FOIA Request, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Stills, Travis) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-05-022LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP (Stills, Travis) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-05-03Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zmh) (Entered: 05/03/2022)
2022-05-033SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmh) (Entered: 05/03/2022)
2022-05-114NOTICE of Appearance by Melissa A Hornbein on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Hornbein, Melissa) (Entered: 05/11/2022)
2022-07-185NOTICE of Appearance by Douglas C. Dreier on behalf of All Defendants (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 07/18/2022)
2022-07-186ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 07/18/2022)
2022-07-187ORDER. Both a Complaint and an Answer are now before the court in this FOIA case. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before August 1, 2022. The Joint Status Report shall include (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 07/18/2022. (lcapm3) (Entered: 07/18/2022)
2022-08-018Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order (Defendants' Proposal), # 2 Text of Proposed Order (Plaintiff's Proposal))(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 08/01/2022)
2022-08-039ORDER. With the submission of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, the following deadlines shall govern this matter: (1) Defendants shall provide a draft Vaughn index to Plaintiff on or before August 12, 2022; (2) The parties shall meet and confer so that Plaintiff can identify unreasonable searches and remaining disputed redactions on or before September 2, 2022; (3) Defendants shall move for summary judgment on or before October 5, 2022; (4) Plaintiff shall file its combined cross-motion for summary judgment and opposition to Defendants' motion on or before November 4, 2022; (5) Defendants shall file their combined opposition to Plaintiff's cross-motion and reply on or before December 5, 2022; and (6) Plaintiff shall file its reply on or before December 19, 2022. Please see attached Order for further details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 08/03/2022. (lcapm3) (Entered: 08/03/2022)
2022-10-0310MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 10/03/2022)
2022-10-0311RESPONSE re 10 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment filed by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Stills, Travis) (Entered: 10/03/2022)
2022-10-0412REPLY to opposition to motion re 10 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 10/04/2022)
2022-10-0413ORDER granting Defendants' 10 Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Summary Judgment. The following schedule shall now apply: Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before October 12, 2022; Plaintiff's combined Opposition and Cross-motion shall be filed on or before November 14, 2022; Defendants' combined Opposition and Reply shall be filed on or before December 14, 2022; and Plaintiff's Reply shall be filed on or before January 11, 2023. See attached Order. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/03/2022. (lcapm3) (Entered: 10/04/2022)
2022-10-1214MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration of Laura Garcia-Hinojosa, # 4 Exhibit - Index, # 5 Exhibit A, # 6 Exhibit B, # 7 Exhibit C, # 8 Exhibit D, # 9 Exhibit E, # 10 Exhibit F, # 11 Exhibit G, # 12 Exhibit H, # 13 Exhibit I, # 14 Exhibit J, # 15 Text of Proposed Order)(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-11-1515MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment and File Cross Motion for Summary Judgement 13 by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Stills, Travis) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-11-1516RESPONSE re 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Errata, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 List of Exhibits, # 17 Statement of Facts, # 18 Text of Proposed Order)(Stills, Travis) (Attachment 3 replaced on 11/16/2022) (znmw). (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-11-1517LARGE ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENT(S) to Hart Declaration by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP 16 Response to motion, filed by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 Exhibit, # 17 Exhibit, # 18 Exhibit, # 19 Exhibit, # 20 Exhibit, # 21 Exhibit, # 22 Exhibit, # 23 Exhibit, # 24 Exhibit, # 25 Exhibit, # 26 Exhibit, # 27 Exhibit, # 28 Exhibit, # 29 Exhibit, # 30 Exhibit, # 31 Exhibit, # 32 Exhibit, # 33 Exhibit, # 34 Exhibit, # 35 Exhibit, # 36 Exhibit, # 37 Exhibit, # 38 Exhibit, # 39 Exhibit, # 40 Exhibit)(Stills, Travis) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-11-1518Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Stills, Travis) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-11-1519RESPONSE re 15 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment and File Cross Motion for Summary Judgement 13 filed by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-11-1520ORDER granting 15 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. Plaintiff's Response to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed by November 15, 2022. See attached Order. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 11/15/2022. (lcapm3) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-12-0921MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment , 18 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 12/09/2022)
2022-12-0922RESPONSE re 21 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment , 18 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Stills, Travis) (Entered: 12/09/2022)
2022-12-1223REPLY to opposition to motion re 21 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment , 18 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 12/12/2022)
2022-12-14MINUTE ORDER granting Defendants' 21 Motion to Extend Time. It is not in the interests of judicial economy for the parties to proceed with briefing the adequacy of the agency's search, when the agency has represented that it will be running additional searches. The court has no desire to rule on matters that might be mooted by the agency's expanded search parameters. Moreover, Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, 140 S. Ct. 1891 (2020), is inapplicable here, as the court will not be evaluating the agency's previous search based on new justifications, but a broader-scoped search that the agency will have to justify anew. Accordingly, Defendants' combined opposition and reply shall be filed by February 17, 2023, and Plaintiff's reply by March 3, 2023. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 12/12/2022. (lcapm3) (Entered: 12/14/2022)
2023-02-0724Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment , 18 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 02/07/2023)
2023-02-09MINUTE ORDER granting 24 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. Defendants' combined opposition and reply shall now be due on or before March 10, 2023. Plaintiff's reply shall be due on or before April 6, 2023. It is further ordered that Defendant U.S. Bureau of Land Management shall make its supplemental production on or before February 28, 2023. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 02/09/2023. (lcapm3) (Entered: 02/09/2023)
2023-03-1025Memorandum in opposition to re 18 Motion for Summary Judgment , REPLY to opposition to motion re 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment , 18 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts - Responses To ECF No. 16-17 and 18-1, # 2 Exhibit - Updated Index of Exhibits and Declarations, # 3 Declaration (Supplemental) of Laura Garcia-Hinojosa, # 4 Exhibit 1, # 5 Exhibit 2, # 6 Declaration of Mark S. Barron, # 7 Declaration of Salar Nabavian, # 8 Text of Proposed Order)(Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 03/10/2023)
2023-03-1026REPLY to opposition to motion re 14 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (See Docket Entry 25 to view document). (zed) (Entered: 03/16/2023)
2023-04-0627REPLY to opposition to motion re 18 Motion for Summary Judgment , Reply to opposition to Motion,, filed by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 Exhibit, # 17 Exhibit, # 18 Exhibit, # 19 Exhibit, # 20 Exhibit, # 21 Exhibit, # 22 Exhibit)(Stills, Travis) Modified docket relationship on 4/11/2023 (zed). (Entered: 04/06/2023)
2024-03-2528MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part Defendants' 14 Motion for Summary Judgment and granting in part Plaintiff's 18 Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment as to the adequacy of the search. The parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by April 24, 2024, which proposes a schedule for further proceedings. See the attached Memorandum Opinion and Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 3/25/24. (lcapm2) (Entered: 03/25/2024)
2024-03-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/24/2024. (smc) (Entered: 03/25/2024)
2024-03-2629NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Joshua Ontell on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Douglas Dreier (Ontell, Joshua) (Entered: 03/26/2024)
2024-04-1930Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to submit joint status report by WILDERNESS WORKSHOP. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hornbein, Melissa) (Entered: 04/19/2024)
2024-04-22MINUTE ORDER granting 30 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time for Submission of Joint Status Report. The parties' time to file their Joint Status Report is extended to May 10, 2024. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/22/2024. (lcapm3) (Entered: 04/22/2024)
2024-05-1031Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Ontell, Joshua) (Entered: 05/10/2024)
2024-05-13MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by July 24, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of additional records in response to the court's Memorandum Opinion of March 25, 2024. If Plaintiff disputes any aspect of the searches proposed by Defendants in the Joint Status Report of May 10, 2024, it shall do so by May 17, 2024. The court may treat as forfeited any objection not raised and attempted to be resolved in any follow-on summary judgment proceedings. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/13/2024. (lcapm3) (Entered: 05/13/2024)
2024-07-2232Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Ontell, Joshua) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-2433ERRATA Exhibit A, 5/17/24 Letter by U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR re 32 Status Report. (Ontell, Joshua) (Entered: 07/24/2024)
2024-07-29MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by October 15, 2024, which updates the court on status of processing and production of additional records in response to the court's March 25, 2024 Memorandum Opinion. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 07/29/2024. (lcapm3) (Entered: 07/29/2024)
2024-07-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/15/2024. (zakb) (Entered: 07/29/2024)
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