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Case TitleBLOOMBERG L.P. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv01519
Date Filed2023-05-26
Date Closed2024-08-22
JudgeJudge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffBLOOMBERG L.P.
Case DescriptionBloomberg L.P. submitted six FOIA requests to the Department of Army for records concerning the contract that permits Olin Winchester LLC to operate the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri. The agency acknowledged the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Bloomberg L.P. filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DefendantOLIN WINCHESTER, LLC
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-05-261COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10098893) filed by BLOOMBERG L.P.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibits 1-12, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-05-262LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BLOOMBERG L.P. (Topic, Matthew) Modified on 5/30/2023 to correct docket entry text (zsl). (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-05-263NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BLOOMBERG L.P. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-05-264NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BLOOMBERG L.P. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-05-30Case Assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell. (zsl) (Entered: 05/30/2023)
2023-05-305SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsl) (Entered: 05/30/2023)
2023-05-316STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on May 31, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 05/31/2023)
2023-06-267NOTICE of Appearance by Patrick Doyle on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-278Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 06/27/2023)
2023-06-28MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING defendants' 8 Consent Motion for Extension of Time and DIRECTING defendants to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's 1 Complaint by August 3, 2023. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 28, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 06/28/2023)
2023-06-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer to the Complaint due by 8/3/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 06/28/2023)
2023-08-039ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 08/03/2023)
2023-08-2510Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 08/25/2023)
2023-08-29MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report by September 25, 2023, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 29, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/29/2023)
2023-08-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 9/25/2023 (mac) (Entered: 08/29/2023)
2023-09-2211Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 09/22/2023)
2023-09-25MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 11 Joint Status Report, to submit, by October 2, 2023, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter, whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 25, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-09-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/2/2023 (mac) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-10-0212Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 10/02/2023)
2023-10-03MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 12 Joint Status Report, to file, by December 19, 2023, a joint status report advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 3, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 10/03/2023)
2023-10-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/19/2023. (mac) (Entered: 10/04/2023)
2023-12-1913Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 12/19/2023)
2023-12-20MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 13 Joint Status Report, to file, by January 19, 2024, a joint status report advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on December 20, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 12/20/2023)
2023-12-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/19/2024. (mac) (Entered: 12/21/2023)
2024-01-1914MOTION to Intervene by Olin Winchester, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Declaration of Michael Stock, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Answer, # 3 Exhibit 3- Proposed Order)(Loveland, Christopher) (Entered: 01/19/2024)
2024-01-1915LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by Olin Winchester, LLC (Loveland, Christopher) (Entered: 01/19/2024)
2024-01-1916Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 01/19/2024)
2024-01-22MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 16 Joint Status Report, to file, by February 20, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 22, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 01/22/2024)
2024-01-22MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING proposed intervenor Olin Winchester LLC's ("Olin") 14 Motion to Intervene. "On timely motion, the court must permit anyone to intervene who... claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action, and is so situated that disposing of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the movant's ability to protect its interest, unless existing parties adequately represent that interest." Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(a)(2). A party's right to intervene under Rule 24(a) turns on four factors: "(1) the timeliness of the motion; (2) whether the applicant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action; (3) whether the applicant is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the applicant's ability to protect that interest; and (4) whether the applicant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties." Fund for Animals, Inc. v. Norton , 322 F.3d 728, 731 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (cleaned up). All four factors favor granting Olin's motion. At the outset, the FOIA request at issue seeks, in relevant part, "[c]opies of all Commercial Sales Summary reports and sales projections filed by Olin..., between January 1, 2020 and February 20, 2023." 16 Joint Status Report at 1. Put differently, all responsive records are documents "filed by Olin." Framed as such, Olin's right to intervene is clear. First, Olin was alerted to this matter on November 27, 2023, when the government informed Olin that records "filed by Olin" were found responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request. See 13 Joint Status Report at 2 ("The Army's search did not locate any responsive records that were not required to be sent to Olin."). Promptly thereafter, on December 7, 2023, Olin objected to the release of six categories of information within the responsive records pursuant to FOIA's Exemption 4. Id. The government has not yet produced any records to plaintiff, and no dispositive motions have been filed. 16 Joint Status Report at 2. Olin's motion is thus timely. As to the second and third factors, Olin has a cognizable interest in its privileged or confidential commercial or financial information, and this interest may be impaired or impeded by disposition of this action, such as if the documents are disclosed. Fourth and finally, Olin's interests are not adequately represented by any existing party because the government does not share identical commercial or financial interests in the records as Olin, and neither party has opposed Olin's intervention. Accordingly, the Court finds that Olin's motion, incorporated memorandum, and supporting declaration, which together make clear Olin's position in this case, satisfy the requirements of Rule 24(c). See, e.g. , Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation v. U.S. Dep't of the Interior , No. 20-cv-1918, 2020 WL 12655958, at *3 (D.D.C. Aug. 27, 2020). Olin's Motion to Intervene is GRANTED, and Olin is DIRECTED to abide by all the deadlines imposed on the parties, including joint status report deadlines. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 22, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 01/22/2024)
2024-01-2217ANSWER to Complaint by OLIN WINCHESTER, LLC.(mg) (Entered: 01/23/2024)
2024-01-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 2/20/2024 (mac) (Entered: 01/23/2024)
2024-02-2018Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 02/20/2024)
2024-02-22MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 18 Joint Status Report, to file, by March 20, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter and whether any disputes remain between the parties, and, if so, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on February 22, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 02/22/2024)
2024-02-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 3/20/2024 (mac) (Entered: 02/22/2024)
2024-03-2019Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 03/20/2024)
2024-03-20MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 19 Joint Status Report, to file, by April 22, 2024, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter and whether any disputes remain between the parties, and, if so, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 20, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 03/20/2024)
2024-03-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/22/2024 (mac) (Entered: 03/21/2024)
2024-04-2220Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Doyle, Patrick) (Entered: 04/22/2024)
2024-04-23MINUTE ORDER (paperless) ISSUING, upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, the following SCHEDULING ORDER: (1) by June 6, 2024, federal defendants and intervenor shall file any motion for summary judgment; (2) by July 8, 2024, plaintiff shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment; (3) by August 7, 2024, federal defendants and intervenor shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiffs cross-motion; and (4) by August 28, 2024, plaintiff shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 23, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 04/23/2024)
2024-04-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Federal defendants and intervenor shall file any motion for summary judgment by 6/6/2024. Plaintiff shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment by 7/8/2024. Federal defendants and intervenor shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiff's cross-motion by 8/7/2024. Plaintiff shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion by 8/28/2024. (zalh) (Entered: 04/24/2024)
2024-06-0621MOTION for Summary Judgment by OLIN WINCHESTER, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Declaration of Michael Stock, # 3 Exhibit A, # 4 Exhibit B, # 5 Exhibit C, # 6 Text of Proposed Order)(Loveland, Christopher) (Entered: 06/06/2024)
2024-06-0622NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Alane Ballweg on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Patrick Doyle (Ballweg, Alane) (Entered: 06/06/2024)
2024-06-0623MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Text of Proposed Order, # 4 Declaration Mack, # 5 Declaration Barrows)(Ballweg, Alane) (Entered: 06/06/2024)
2024-07-0224Unopposed MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule by BLOOMBERG L.P.. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/02/2024)
2024-07-02MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING plaintiffs' 24 Unopposed Motion to Modify Briefing Schedule, and MODIFYING the Court's April 23, 2024 Scheduling Order as follows: (1) by July 22, 2024, plaintiff shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment; (3) by August 21, 2024, federal defendants and intervenor shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiffs cross-motion; and (4) by September 11, 2024, plaintiff shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on July 2, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 07/02/2024)
2024-07-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff Opposition And Cross-Motion For Summary Judgment due by 7/22/2024. (3) by August 21, 2024, Federal Defendants And Intervenor Reply And Opposition To Plaintiffs Cross-Motion due by 8/21/2024. Plaintiff Reply In Support Of The Cross-Motion due by 9/11/2024. (mac) (Entered: 07/03/2024)
2024-07-1625Unopposed MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule by BLOOMBERG L.P.. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/16/2024)
2024-07-17MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING plaintiff's 25 Unopposed Motion to Modify Briefing Schedule, and MODIFYING the Court's April 23, 2024 Scheduling Order as follows: (1) by August 19, 2024, plaintiff shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment; (2) by September 18, 2024, federal defendants and intervenor shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiff's cross-motion; and (3) by October 9, 2024, plaintiff shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on July 17, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 07/17/2024)
2024-07-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff Opposition And Cross-Motion For Summary Judgment due by 8/19/2024. Response to Cross Motion due by 9/18/2024. Federal Defendants And Intervenor Reply And Opposition To Plaintiff's Cross-Motion due by 9/18/2024. Plaintiff Reply In Support Of The Cross-Motion due by 10/9/2024. (mac) (Entered: 07/18/2024)
2024-08-2126Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Petition for Attorneys' Fees and Costs by BLOOMBERG L.P.. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-2127STIPULATION of Dismissal by BLOOMBERG L.P.. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-21MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING the parties' 26 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Attorneys' Fees and Costs; and DIRECTING plaintiff to file, by October 2, 2024, any motion for attorneys' fees. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 21, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-21MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DENYING AS MOOT defendants' 23 Motion for Summary Judgment; DENYING AS MOOT intervenor's 21 Motion for Summary Judgment; DISMISSING, with prejudice, Count I as it relates to parts 6, 10, and 12, of plaintiff's March 6, 2023 FOIA Request, pursuant to the parties' 27 Stipulation of Dismissal and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii); and DISMISSING, without prejudice, the rest of Count I, as well as Counts II-VI, pursuant to the parties' 27 Stipulation of Dismissal and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 21, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff's Motion For Attorney Fees due by 10/2/2024. (mac) (Entered: 08/22/2024)
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