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Case TitleAMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION v. NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02713
Date Filed2022-09-08
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffAMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionAmerica First Legal Foundation submitted three FOIA requests to the National Archives and Records Administration for records concerning communications with Hunter Biden, James Biden, or other individuals associated with Rosemont Seneca Partners or the Lion Hall Group. AFL also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, denied AFL's request for expedited processing and asked for clarification of the scope of the requests. After hearing nothing further from the agency, AFL filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Expedited processing, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantNATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
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
Complaint attachment 12
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-09-081COMPLAINT against NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9502352) filed by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Exhibit H, # 9 Exhibit I, # 10 Exhibit J, # 11 Civil Cover Sheet, # 12 Summons)(Field, Brian) (Entered: 09/08/2022)
2022-09-082LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION (Field, Brian) (Entered: 09/08/2022)
2022-09-09Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (zcb, ) (Entered: 09/09/2022)
2022-09-093SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zcb, ) (Entered: 09/09/2022)
2022-09-274RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/10/2022. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/10/2022. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of K. Robinson with Exhibits)(Field, Brian) (Entered: 09/27/2022)
2022-09-275RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09/19/2022. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of K. Robinson with Exhibits)(Field, Brian) (Entered: 09/27/2022)
2022-09-276RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION served on 9/19/2022 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of K. Robinson with Exhibits)(Field, Brian) Modified on 9/27/2022 to add date of service (zjm). (Entered: 09/27/2022)
2022-10-057NOTICE of Appearance by Laurel H. Lum on behalf of NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 10/05/2022)
2022-10-058ANSWER to Complaint by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION.(Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 10/05/2022)
2022-10-06MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by October 20, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/6/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/06/2022)
2022-10-209Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-10-24MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 9 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby directed to file a further Joint Status Report by October 28, 2022, providing the Court an estimate of the number of potentially responsive documents and updating the Court on the parties' proposed processing rates and schedules for production. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/24/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/24/2022)
2022-10-2810Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 10/28/2022)
2022-10-31MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by December 2, 2022. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/31/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/31/2022)
2022-12-0211Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 12/02/2022)
2022-12-05MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by February 2, 2023. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/5/2022. (lccrc1) (Entered: 12/05/2022)
2023-02-0212Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 02/02/2023)
2023-02-03MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by May 2, 2023, including a report on the progress of the parties' efforts to narrow requests and an estimated date by which production of documents will be completed. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/3/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/03/2023)
2023-05-0213NOTICE of Appearance by Taylor Pitz on behalf of NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION (Pitz, Taylor) (Entered: 05/02/2023)
2023-05-0214Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Pitz, Taylor) (Entered: 05/02/2023)
2023-05-16MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, the parties are ordered to appear for a Status Conference set for June 7, 2023 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 27A (in Person) before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 5/16/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 05/16/2023)
2023-05-2915Consent MOTION to Continue Status Conference by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 05/29/2023)
2023-06-01MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiff's 15 Consent Motion to Continue Status Conference. The status conference set for June 7, 2022 is hereby vacated and rescheduled for July 13, 2023 at 3:00 PM in Courtroom 27A (In Person) before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. At the status conference, the Court intends to discuss the estimated production timeline set forth in the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, which stated that production in this case will not be completed until August 1, 2029. In lieu of a status conference, the Court would welcome the parties to submit a joint status report by June 14, 2023, explaining what steps might be taken to shorten this unworkable production schedule. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/1/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/01/2023)
2023-06-1416Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Pitz, Taylor) (Entered: 06/14/2023)
2023-06-20MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, the Court hereby vacates the status conference set for July 13, 2023. The parties shall file a further joint status report by October 6, 2023, which shall include an update as to the status of their discussions about potential narrowing, along with an new estimated date by which production of documents will be completed. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/20/2023.(lccrc1) (Entered: 06/20/2023)
2023-10-0617Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 10/06/2023)
2023-10-12MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 17 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by November 20, 2023. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/12/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/12/2023)
2023-11-2018Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 11/20/2023)
2023-11-21MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 18 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by January 25, 2024. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/21/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 11/21/2023)
2024-01-2519Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 01/25/2024)
2024-01-26MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by April 24, 2024, which shall include an update as to the status of their discussions about potential narrowing, along with an new estimated date by which production of documents will be completed. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/26/2024. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/26/2024)
2024-04-2420Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 04/24/2024)
2024-04-26MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by July 27, 2024, which shall include an update as to the status of their discussions about potential narrowing. The status report shall also indicate the volume of records that are still being processed and provide a new estimated date by which production of documents will be completed. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/26/2024. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/26/2024)
2024-05-2921NOTICE of Appearance by Jacob Stephen Siler on behalf of NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION (Siler, Jacob) (Entered: 05/29/2024)
2024-05-2922NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. Attorney Laurel H. Lum terminated. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 05/29/2024)
2024-07-2623Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Siler, Jacob) (Entered: 07/26/2024)
2024-07-30MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report by August 29, 2024. The parties are encouraged to work in good faith to resolve the disputed issues and narrow the production so that it can be completed before January 2027. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 7/30/2024. (lccrc1) (Entered: 07/30/2024)
2024-08-2924Joint STATUS REPORT by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. (Siler, Jacob) (Entered: 08/29/2024)
2024-08-30MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, the parties are ordered to file a further status report by September 30, 2024, which shall include an estimated date of completion. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/30/2024. (lccrc1) (Entered: 08/30/2024)
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