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Case TitleBRODIE v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictEastern District of Pennsylvania
CityPhiladelphia
Case Number2:2023cv01568
Date Filed2023-04-24
Date Closed2024-06-20
JudgeDISTRICT JUDGE WENDY BEETLESTONE
PlaintiffHOWARD BRODIE
Case DescriptionHoward Brodie, the owner and operator of the website Reducethebacklog.com, which aims to reduce the backlog of immigrant visas, submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of State. His first request asked for current and historical statistical information regarding the number of immigrant visa applications whose case are documentarily complete and pending interview scheduling. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. Brodie sent a second FOIA request asking for information regarding the backlog of immigrant visa applications awaiting interviews and the difference in waiting times for consular officers to process non-immigrant visa applications compared to immigrant visa applications. The agency acknowledged receipt of that request. However, after hearing nothing further from the agency, Brodie filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-04-241COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number APAEDC-16647481.), filed by HOWARD BRODIE. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Designation Form)(BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-04-252Summons Issued as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General Forwarded To: US ATTY on 4/25/23 (amas) (FILED IN ERROR) (va). (Entered: 04/25/2023)
2023-04-253Summons Issued as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. Forwarded To: Plaintiff's Counsel, US ATTY & US ATTY GEN on 4/25/23 (va) (Entered: 04/25/2023)
2023-05-054AFFIDAVIT of Service by Camille Schoonmaker re: served Summons and Complaint upon Jacqueline C. Romero, U.S. Attorney by Certified U.S. Mail on 5/4/2023 (BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 05/05/2023)
2023-05-055AFFIDAVIT of Service by Camille Schoonmaker re: served Summons and Complaint upon U.S. Department of State by Certified U.S. Mail on 5/5/2023 (BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 05/05/2023)
2023-05-056AFFIDAVIT of Service by Camille Schoonmaker re: served Summons and Complaint upon Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General by Certified U.S. Mail on 5/3/2023 (BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 05/05/2023)
2023-06-057NOTICE of Appearance by MARK J. SHERER on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE with Certificate of Service(SHERER, MARK) (Entered: 06/05/2023)
2023-06-058ANSWER to Complaint and Affirmative Defenses by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(SHERER, MARK) (Entered: 06/05/2023)
2023-06-079NOTICE OF ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE: PRETRIAL CONFERENCE SET FOR 6/21/2023 10:00 AM BEFORE HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE. THE PARTIES SHALL CONFER AS TO WHO WILL SCHEDULE AND CIRCULATE ZOOM INFORMATION TO CHAMBERS AT chambers_of_judge_beetlestone@paed.uscourts.gov NO LATER THAN FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO CONFERENCE. (Attachments: # 1 ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY ORDER, # 2 JOINT REPORT OF RULE 26 F)(amw) (Entered: 06/07/2023)
2023-06-1310MOTION for Pro Hac Vice of Anthony T. Pierce ( Filing fee $ 75 receipt number APAEDC-16751544.) filed by HOWARD BRODIE.Certificate of Service.(BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 06/13/2023)
2023-06-1311MOTION for Pro Hac Vice of Caroline L. Wolverton ( Filing fee $ 75 receipt number APAEDC-16751575.) filed by HOWARD BRODIE.Certificate of Service.(BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 06/13/2023)
2023-06-1312MOTION for Pro Hac Vice of Jillie B. Richards ( Filing fee $ 75 receipt number APAEDC-16751602.) filed by HOWARD BRODIE.Certificate of Service.(BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 06/13/2023)
2023-06-1413Report Of Rule 26(f) Meeting and Proposed Discovery Plan (Joint) by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (SHERER, MARK) (Entered: 06/14/2023)
2023-06-1514ORDER GRANTING 10 MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE BY HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 06/15/2023.06/15/2023 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amw) (Entered: 06/15/2023)
2023-06-1515ORDER GRANTING 12 MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE BY HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 06/15/2023.06/15/2023 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amw) (Entered: 06/15/2023)
2023-06-1516ORDER THAT THE MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION OF CAROLINE L. WOLVERTON, ESQUIRE (DOC. NO. 11 ) IS GRANTED. SIGNED BY HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 6/15/23.6/16/23 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amas) (Entered: 06/16/2023)
2023-06-2117Minute Entry for proceedings held before HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE Pretrial Conference held on 6/20/23 (amas) (Entered: 06/21/2023)
2023-06-2118SCHEDULING ORDER THAT ANY MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHALL BE FILED BY 12/21/2023. SIGNED BY HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 6/21/23. 6/21/23 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amas) (Entered: 06/21/2023)
2023-11-2919MOTION to Modify the Scheduling Order to Extend the Deadline to File Motions for Summary Judgment (Unopposed) filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.Certificate of Counsel, Certificate of Service.(SHERER, MARK) (Entered: 11/29/2023)
2023-11-3020SCHEDULING ORDER THAT DEFENDANT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATES UNOPPOSED MOTION TO MODIFY THE SCHEDULING ORDER TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE TO FILE MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IS GRANTED. ANY MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHALL BE FILED ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 22, 2024.SIGNED BY HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 11/30/23. 11/30/23 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amas) (Entered: 11/30/2023)
2024-01-0221Consent MOTION to Modify the Scheduling Order to Extend the Deadline to File Motions for Summary Judgment (Unopposed) filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.Certificate of Counsel, Certificate of Service.(SHERER, MARK) (Entered: 01/02/2024)
2024-01-1122ORDER GRANTING 21 MOTION TO MODIFY BY HONORABLE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 01/11/2024.01/11/2024 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amw) (Entered: 01/11/2024)
2024-02-1623NOTICE of Appearance by STACEY L.B. SMITH on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE with Certificate of Service(SMITH, STACEY) (Entered: 02/16/2024)
2024-02-2024STIPULATION to hold this matter in abeyance for sixty (60) days. by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (SMITH, STACEY) (Entered: 02/20/2024)
2024-03-1425ORDER APPROVING STIPULATION TO HOLD THIS MATTER IN ABEYANCE FOR SIXTY DAYS AS OUTLINED HEREIN. SIGNED BY DISTRICT JUDGE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 3/14/24. 3/14/24 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amas) (Entered: 03/14/2024)
2024-04-2226Letter dated April 22, 2024 by HOWARD BRODIE. (BUSTA, JULIE) (Entered: 04/22/2024)
2024-04-2327ORDER THAT PLAINTIFFS UNOPPOSED LETTER (ECF#26) REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF ABEYANCE IS GRANTED. THIS MATTER SHALL BE STAYED THROUGH JUNE 24, 2024. SIGNED BY DISTRICT JUDGE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 4/23/24. 4/23/24 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(amas) (Entered: 04/23/2024)
2024-05-2928NOTICE of Withdrawal of Appearance by STACEY L.B. SMITH on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE(SMITH, STACEY) (Entered: 05/29/2024)
2024-06-2029STIPULTION AND ORDER THAT THIS ACTION IS DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. SIGNED BY DISTRICT JUDGE WENDY BEETLESTONE ON 6/20/24. 6/20/24 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(mbh) (Entered: 06/20/2024)
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