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Case TitleLEOPOLD et al v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02651
Date Filed2022-09-01
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Dabney L. Friedrich
PlaintiffJASON LEOPOLD
PlaintiffBLOOMBERG L.P.
Case DescriptionJournalist Jason Leopold submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning investigative records on Ivana Trump, Donald Trump's former wife, who had died recently. The FBI acknowledged receipt of the request and told Leopold that his request fell within the unusual circumstances track. 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

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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 FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9485578) filed by JASON LEOPOLD, BLOOMBERG L.P.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex 1-4, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-012LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BLOOMBERG L.P., JASON LEOPOLD (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-013NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BLOOMBERG L.P., JASON LEOPOLD (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-014NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of BLOOMBERG L.P., JASON LEOPOLD (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-015SEALED DOCUMENT filed by JASON LEOPOLD(This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 09/01/2022)
2022-09-06Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (znmw) (Entered: 09/06/2022)
2022-09-066SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 09/06/2022)
2022-09-067STANDARD ORDER for Civil Cases. See text for details. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 6, 2022. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 09/06/2022)
2022-10-108RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 9/26/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 10/10/2022)
2022-10-109RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 9/26/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 10/10/2022)
2022-10-1010RETURN 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: 10/10/2022)
2022-10-1011RETURN 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: 10/10/2022)
2022-10-1312NOTICE of Appearance by Sean Michael Tepe on behalf of All Defendants (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 10/13/2022)
2022-10-1913ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 10/19/2022)
2022-10-20MINUTE ORDER requiring the parties to MEET AND CONFER and file a joint status report proposing a schedule for further proceedings. The status report should address the status of the plaintiff's FOIA request, including the anticipated number of documents responsive to the request and the anticipated date(s) for release of the requested documents. The parties shall file the joint status report on or before November 10, 2022. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 20, 2022. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-11-1014Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 11/10/2022)
2022-11-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before December 12, 2022. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 10, 2022. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 11/10/2022)
2022-12-1215Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 12/12/2022)
2022-12-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before March 15, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 13, 2022. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 12/13/2022)
2022-12-1316ERRATA by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE re 15 Status Report. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 12/13/2022)
2023-02-2117NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BLOOMBERG L.P., 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)
2023-03-1518Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 03/15/2023)
2023-03-15MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before May 15, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 15, 2023. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 03/15/2023)
2023-05-1519Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before July 14, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 16, 2023. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 05/16/2023)
2023-07-1420Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2023)
2023-07-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before September 12, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on June 19, 2023. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-07-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 9/12/2023 (zjch, ) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-09-1221Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 09/12/2023)
2023-09-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file a status report on or before November 14, 2023. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 12, 2023. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 09/12/2023)
2023-09-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 11/14/2023. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 09/12/2023)
2023-10-2322NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kaitlin Kerry Eckrote on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Sean M. Tepe (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 10/23/2023)
2023-11-1423Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 11/14/2023)
2023-11-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 23 Status Report, the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before January 16, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on November 14, 2023. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 11/14/2023)
2024-01-1624Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 01/16/2024)
2024-01-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 24 Status Report, the parties shall file a status report on or before March 18, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on January 17, 2024. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
2024-03-1825Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 03/18/2024)
2024-03-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 25 Status Report, the parties shall file a joint status report on or before May 17, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on March 18, 2024. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 03/18/2024)
2024-05-1726Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 05/17/2024)
2024-05-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 26 Status Report, the parties shall file a joint status report on or before July 16, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 17, 2024. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 05/17/2024)
2024-07-1627Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 07/16/2024)
2024-07-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 27 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before September 16, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on July 16, 2024. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 07/16/2024)
2024-07-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 9/16/2024 (zjch, ) (Entered: 07/18/2024)
2024-09-1628Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 09/16/2024)
2024-09-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 28 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before November 15, 2024. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 16, 2024. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 09/16/2024)
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