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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv02028
Date Filed2023-07-14
Date Closed2024-09-23
JudgeJudge Loren L. AliKhan
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Secret Service for records concerning Secret Service protection for Navy Joan Roberts, the daughter of Hunter Biden and the grand daughter of President Joe Biden. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency told Judicial Watch that it found no responsive records. Judicial Watch filed an administrative appeal of the no records response. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-07-141COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10207177) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Homeland Security, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney)(Peterson, James) (Entered: 07/14/2023)
2023-07-142LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Peterson, James) (Entered: 07/14/2023)
2023-07-14Case Assigned to Judge Jia M. Cobb. (zsl) (Entered: 07/14/2023)
2023-07-203SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrtw) (Entered: 07/20/2023)
2023-08-024RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/20/2023. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/19/2023.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 7/26/2023., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 7/25/2023 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Peterson, James) (Entered: 08/02/2023)
2023-08-145NOTICE of Appearance by Laura Bakst on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 08/14/2023)
2023-08-216ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 (FOIA Request), # 2 Exhibit 2 (FOIA Response), # 3 Exhibit 3 (FOIA Appeal))(Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 08/21/2023)
2023-08-22MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the Parties confer and submit a joint proposed schedule for further proceedings, which shall include a proposed schedule for the processing and release of responsive records or for briefing dispositive motions, by September 5, 2023. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on August 22, 2023. (lcjmc3) (Entered: 08/22/2023)
2023-09-057Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 09/05/2023)
2023-09-088VACATED PURSUANT TO COURT'S ORDER OF 6/21/2024.......SCHEDULING ORDER: Joint Status Report due 10/5/23. See attached document for further details. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on September 8, 2023. (lcjmc3) Modified on 6/24/2024 (zcdw). (Entered: 09/08/2023)
2023-10-059Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 10/05/2023)
2023-12-14Case directly reassigned to Judge Loren L. AliKhan. Judge Jia M. Cobb is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 12/14/2023)
2024-01-0310Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 01/03/2024)
2024-04-0211Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 04/02/2024)
2024-06-2112Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 06/21/2024)
2024-06-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report 12 , it is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule shall govern summary judgment briefing in this case: (1) Defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before August 9, 2024; (2) Plaintiff shall file its opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment on or before September 20, 2024; (3) Defendant shall file its reply and opposition, if any, on or before October 11, 2024; (4) Plaintiff shall file a reply, if any, on or before November 1, 2024. It is further ORDERED that the court's September 8, 2023 Scheduling Order is VACATED and the parties need not submit further joint status reports in light of the case's progression to summary judgment briefing. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 06/21/2024. (lclla3) (Entered: 06/21/2024)
2024-06-24Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Defendant's Summary Judgment motion due by 8/9/2024. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/20/2024. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/11/2024. Plaintiff's Cross Motion due by 9/20/2024. Response to Cross Motion due by 10/11/2024. Reply to Cross Motion due by 11/1/2024. (zcdw) (Entered: 06/24/2024)
2024-08-0913MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Statement of Facts, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Bakst, Laura) (Entered: 08/09/2024)
2024-09-2014STIPULATION of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Peterson, James) (Entered: 09/20/2024)
2024-09-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Plaintiff's stipulation of dismissal 14 , it is hereby ORDERED that the case is DISMISSED with prejudice. It is further ORDERED that Defendant's motion for summary judgment 13 is DENIED as moot. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate this case. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 9/20/2024. (lclla3) (Entered: 09/20/2024)
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