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Case TitleTOBIAS v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02650
Date Filed2022-09-01
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffJIMMY TOBIAS
Case DescriptionJournalist Jimmy Tobias submitted eight FOIA requests to the Department of Interior for records concerning NextEra Energy, a renewable energy company. The agency acknowledged receipt iof the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Tobias filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DefendantBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
DefendantUNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-09-011COMPLAINT against BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9485169) filed by JIMMY TOBIAS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex 1-14, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-012NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of JIMMY TOBIAS (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-013NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of JIMMY TOBIAS (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-07Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmrl) (Entered: 09/07/2022)
2022-09-074SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmrl) (Entered: 09/07/2022)
2022-09-205STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 20, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 09/20/2022)
2022-10-116RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/19/2022. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/19/2022. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-117RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09/26/2022. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-118RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR served on 9/26/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-119RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT served on 9/26/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-1810NOTICE of Appearance by Thomas Duffey on behalf of BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 10/18/2022)
2022-10-1911Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, with proposed order by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 10/19/2022)
2022-10-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of Defendants' 11 Consent Motion for an Extension of Time, it is ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. Defendants shall file their answer or otherwise respond to the 1 Complaint on or before November 19, 2022. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 19, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 10/19/2022)
2022-10-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 11/19/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-11-1812ANSWER to Complaint by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.(Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 11/18/2022)
2022-11-21MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. Pursuant 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 on or before December 21, 2022. The Joint Status Report shall address: (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); (5) the possibility of prioritizing documents responsive to Plaintiff's requests and any discussions regarding whether Plaintiff's request 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 November 21, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 11/21/2022)
2022-11-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/21/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 11/21/2022)
2022-12-2113Joint STATUS REPORT by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/21/2022)
2023-01-04MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 13 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before March 20, 2023, and every 60 days thereafter until either Party moves for a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, files a dispositive motion, or the case is terminated. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on January 4, 2023. (lccjn2) (Entered: 01/04/2023)
2023-03-0914NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of JIMMY TOBIAS (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
2023-03-2015Joint STATUS REPORT by BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-05-2216Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-07-2417Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-09-2518Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-11-2719Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 11/27/2023)
2024-01-2620Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 01/26/2024)
2024-03-2621Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 03/26/2024)
2024-05-2222Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 05/22/2024)
2024-07-2423Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 07/24/2024)
2024-09-2324Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 09/23/2024)
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