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Case TitlePROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv01663
Date Filed2024-06-07
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Sparkle L. Sooknanan
PlaintiffPROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST
Case DescriptionProtect the Public's Trust submitted two FOIA requests to the Bureau of Land Management for records concerning protests in Washington DC in October 2021. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, PPT filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2024-06-071COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-10948704) filed by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - FOIA Request, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons Summons -- U.S. Attorney's Office, # 4 Summons Summons -- U.S. Attorney General, # 5 Summons Summons - Department of the Interior Solicitor)(Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 06/07/2024)
2024-06-072LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 06/07/2024)
2024-06-10Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zcb) (Entered: 06/10/2024)
2024-06-103SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zcb) (Entered: 06/10/2024)
2024-07-094NOTICE of Appearance by Stephanie R. Johnson on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 07/09/2024)
2024-07-095Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 07/09/2024)
2024-07-10MINUTE ORDER: GRANTING 5 Consent Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant's response to Plaintiff's Complaint is due August 9, 2024. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/10/2024. (lca) (Entered: 07/10/2024)
2024-08-086ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/08/2024)
2024-08-09MINUTE ORDER: Before the court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues no later than 9/10/2024. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 8/9/2024. (lca) (Entered: 08/09/2024)
2024-09-107Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 09/10/2024)
2024-09-11MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the 7 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file an additional status report on or before November 12, 2024 updating the court as to the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request. The status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 9/11/2024. (lca) (Entered: 09/11/2024)
2024-11-128Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 11/12/2024)
2024-11-15MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file an additional status report by January 30, 2025, and every 60 days thereafter, updating the court about the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, and, if necessary, proposing a briefing schedule. To the extent the parties request a change in the status quo, the status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 11/15/2024. (lcdh) (Entered: 11/15/2024)
2025-01-079NOTICE of Appearance by Karin Sweigart on behalf of PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST (Sweigart, Karin) (Entered: 01/07/2025)
2025-01-10Case directly reassigned to Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 01/10/2025)
2025-01-1310Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 01/13/2025)
2025-01-1911NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. Attorney Gary Lawkowski terminated. (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 01/19/2025)
2025-03-1212Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 03/12/2025)
2025-03-14MINUTE ORDER: In light of the Parties' 12 Joint Status Report, the Court ORDERS the Parties to meet and confer on any remaining issues and to file a joint status report by May 13, 2025, proposing next steps. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 3/14/2025. (lcas) (Entered: 03/14/2025)
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