Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleAMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv02172
Date Filed2023-07-26
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffAMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionAmerica First Legal Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning the background investigation for Alejandro Mayorkas when he was nominated to head U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and, later, the Department of Homeland Security. AFL also requested expedited processing and argued that Mayorkas' Privacy Act rights were waived when the reports were sent to Congress. The FBI acknowledged receipt of the request and denied it entirely under Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy) and Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records). AFL filed an administrative appeal. The Office of Information Policy denied AFL's appeal. AFL then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-07-261COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10232842) filed by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Ding, Michael) (Entered: 07/26/2023)
2023-07-26Case Assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell. (zcb) (Entered: 07/26/2023)
2023-07-262SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zcb) (Entered: 07/26/2023)
2023-08-013STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 1, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/01/2023)
2023-08-084RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/27/2023. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/26/2023. (Attachments: # 1 Appendix E-mail confirmation from USADC)(Ding, Michael) (Entered: 08/08/2023)
2023-08-215RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 08/16/2023. (Ding, Michael) (Entered: 08/21/2023)
2023-08-216RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 8/16/2023 (Ding, Michael) (Entered: 08/21/2023)
2023-08-227NOTICE of Appearance by Dedra Seibel Curteman on behalf of All Defendants (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 08/22/2023)
2023-08-228Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 08/22/2023)
2023-08-23MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING defendants' 8 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer, and DIRECTING defendants to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's 1 Complaint by September 27, 2023. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 23, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/23/2023)
2023-08-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendants Answer Or Otherwise Response To Plaintiff's 1 Complaint due by 9/27/2023. (mac) (Entered: 08/24/2023)
2023-09-279ANSWER to Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 09/27/2023)
2023-10-1110NOTICE of Appearance by Jacob Meckler on behalf of AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION (Meckler, Jacob) (Entered: 10/11/2023)
2023-10-1111Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 10/11/2023)
2023-10-12MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 11 Joint Status Report, to file, by December 13, 2023, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 12, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 10/12/2023)
2023-10-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/13/2023. (zalh) (Entered: 10/16/2023)
2023-12-1312Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 12/13/2023)
2023-12-14MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 12 Joint Status Report, to file, by February 12, 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 December 14, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 12/14/2023)
2023-12-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 2/12/2024 (mac) (Entered: 12/15/2023)
2024-02-1213Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 02/12/2024)
2024-02-12MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 13 Joint Status Report, to file, by April 12, 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 12, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 02/12/2024)
2024-02-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 4/12/2024. (mac) (Entered: 02/13/2024)
2024-04-1214Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/12/2024)
2024-04-15MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 14 Joint Status Report, to file, by April 19, 2024, a joint status report with a proposed briefing schedule for their anticipated cross-motions for summary judgment. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 15, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 04/15/2024)
2024-04-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 4/19/2024. (mac) (Entered: 04/17/2024)
2024-04-1915Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/19/2024)
2024-04-19MINUTE ORDER (paperless) ISSUING, upon consideration of the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, the following SCHEDULING ORDER: (1) by July 26, 2024, defendant shall file any motion for summary judgment; (2) by August 16, 2024, plaintiff shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment; (3) by August 30, 2024, defendant shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiff's cross-motion; and (4) by September 13, 2024, plaintiff shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 19, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 04/19/2024)
2024-04-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant Motion For Summary Judgment due by 07/26/2024. Plaintiff Opposition And Cross-Motion For Summary Judgment due by 8/16/2024. Defendant Reply And Opposition To Plaintiff's Cross-Motion due by 8/30/2024. Plaintiff Reply In Support Of The Cross-Motion due by 9/13/2024. (mac) (Entered: 04/22/2024)
2024-06-0616LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION (Meckler, Jacob) (Entered: 06/06/2024)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar