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Case TitleAL OTRO LADO, INC. v. U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv00925
Date Filed2024-04-01
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Timothy J. Kelly
PlaintiffAL OTRO LADO, INC.
Case DescriptionAl Otro Lado submitted three FOIA requests to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for records concerning the stockpiling of captured fentanyl by the CBP and the agency's refusal to post information about fentanyl policies online. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Al Otro Lado filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2024-04-011COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-10793804) filed by AL OTRO LADO, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit)(Fels, Andrew) (Entered: 04/01/2024)
2024-04-02Case Assigned to Judge Timothy J. Kelly. (znmw) (Entered: 04/02/2024)
2024-04-02NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint. The following error(s) need correction: Missing summonses- U.S. government. When naming a U.S. government agent or agency as a defendant, you must supply a summons for each defendant & two additional summonses for the U.S. Attorney & U.S. Attorney General. Please submit using the event Request for Summons to Issue. (znmw) (Entered: 04/02/2024)
2024-04-302REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by AL OTRO LADO, INC.. Related document: 1 Complaint filed by AL OTRO LADO, INC..(Fels, Andrew) (Entered: 04/30/2024)
2024-05-013SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (znmw) (Entered: 05/01/2024)
2024-06-114AFFIDAVIT of Mailing. (Fels, Andrew) Modified event on 6/12/2024 (znmw). (Entered: 06/11/2024)
2024-06-115AFFIDAVIT of Mailing. (Fels, Andrew) Modified event on 6/12/2024 (znmw). (Entered: 06/11/2024)
2024-06-116AFFIDAVIT of Mailing. (Fels, Andrew) Modified event on 6/12/2024 (znmw). (Entered: 06/11/2024)
2024-06-257MOTION to Amend/Correct 1 Complaint by AL OTRO LADO, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Amended Complaint, # 2 Exhibit Amended Complaint Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit Amended Complaint Exhibit 2, # 4 Supplement Civil Standing Order, # 5 Supplement Complaint Compare Copy)(Fels, Andrew) (Entered: 06/25/2024)
2024-06-268NOTICE of Appearance by Kaitlin Kerry Eckrote on behalf of U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 06/26/2024)
2024-06-289Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 06/28/2024)
2024-07-02MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiff's 7 Motion to Amend the Complaint and Defendant's 9 Consent Motion for an Extension of Time to File Answer. On June 3, 2024, Defendant was served with the 1 Complaint, and 22 days later, on June 25, 2024, Plaintiff moved to amend the 1 Complaint "as a matter of right." Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(1) provides that "[a] party may amend its pleading once as a matter of course within...21 days after serving it, or...21 days after service of a responsive pleading or 21 days after service of a motion under Rule 12(b), (e), or (f), whichever is earlier." Neither timeframe appears to be met here, "[a]lthough there is some difference of opinion on the matter." Savignac v. Jones Day , 341 F.R.D. 120, 122 (D.D.C. 2022) (adopting a reading of Rule 12(a)(1)(B) that "the time to amend begins when the pleading is served and ends 21 days after the response is served"). Regardless, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(2) provides that a "court should freely give leave [to amend a pleading] when justice so requires." Accordingly, courts typically grant leave to amend a complaint so long as there is no "undue delay, bad faith[,] repeated failure to cure deficiencies[,] undue prejudice[,] futility of amendment, etc." Foman v. Davis , 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962). Finding no such factors applicable, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff's 7 Motion to Amend the Complaint is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is directed to docket Plaintiff's Amended Complaint, ECF No. 7-1, as the operative complaint, along with its exhibits, ECF Nos. 7-2 and 7-3. It is further ORDERED that Defendant's 9 consent motion is GRANTED, and Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the amended complaint by August 8, 2024. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 7/2/2024. (lctjk1) (Entered: 07/02/2024)
2024-07-0210AMENDED COMPLAINT against U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION filed by AL OTRO LADO, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit)(zdp) (Entered: 07/02/2024)
2024-08-0111Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 10 Amended Complaint by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 08/01/2024)
2024-08-02MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 11 Consent Motion for an Extension of Time to File an Answer. It is hereby ORDERED, for good cause shown, that Defendant's 11 consent motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's 10 Amended Complaint by September 9, 2024. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 8/2/2024. (lctjk1) (Entered: 08/02/2024)
2024-09-0512Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 10 Amended Complaint by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 09/05/2024)
2024-09-05MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 12 Consent Motion for an Extension of Time to File an Answer. It is hereby ORDERED, for good cause shown, that Defendant's 12 consent motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's 10 Amended Complaint by October 9, 2024. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 9/5/2024. (lctjk1) (Entered: 09/05/2024)
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