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Case TitleCATO INSTITUTE v. U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv01642
Date Filed2024-06-05
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Sparkle L. Sooknanan
PlaintiffCATO INSTITUTE
Case DescriptionCato Institute submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for records concerning individual encounters or apprehensions by the border patrol from FY 1999 to FY 2024. The Cato Institute requested the records in an Excel format. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the Cato Institute filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

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

2024-06-051COMPLAINT against U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-10943151) filed by CATO INSTITUTE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1-3, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/05/2024)
2024-06-052NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of CATO INSTITUTE (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/05/2024)
2024-06-053NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of CATO INSTITUTE (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 06/05/2024)
2024-06-06Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zcb) (Entered: 06/06/2024)
2024-06-064SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zcb) (Entered: 06/06/2024)
2024-06-205STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on June 20, 2024. (lccjn1) (Entered: 06/20/2024)
2024-07-026Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 07/02/2024)
2024-07-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 6 Motion for Extension of Time, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the government shall respond to the complaint on or before August 7, 2024. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on July 3, 2024. (lccjn1) (Entered: 07/03/2024)
2024-07-227RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION served on 6/20/2024 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-228RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 6/28/2024 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-229RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 06/21/2024. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-2210RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/7/2024. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/7/2024. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-08-0611ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 08/06/2024)
2024-09-0512Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 09/05/2024)
2024-09-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the Parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by November 5, 2024, and every 60 days thereafter until either party moves for a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, files a dispositive motion, or the case is terminated. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 13, 2024. (lccjn1) (Entered: 09/13/2024)
2024-11-0513Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 11/05/2024)
2025-01-0714Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 01/07/2025)
2025-01-08Case directly reassigned to Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan. Judge Carl J. Nichols is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 01/08/2025)
2025-03-0615Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 03/06/2025)
2025-03-07MINUTE ORDER: In light of the Parties' 15 Joint Status Report, the Court ORDERS the Parties to file a further joint status report by May 6, 2025. This Joint Status Report should detail (1) how many documents remain to be released and (2) a timeline for completion. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 3/7/2025.(lcas) (Entered: 03/07/2025)
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