Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitlePHILLIPS v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv01664
Date Filed2024-06-07
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Amir H. Ali
PlaintiffJOSHUA PHILLIPS
Case DescriptionJoshua Phillips submitted multiple FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services for records concerning self-harm and other forms of stress experienced by unaccompanied minors. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agencies, Phillips filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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

2024-06-071COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-10948862) filed by JOSHUA PHILLIPS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1-5, # 2 Exhibit 6-10, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/07/2024)
2024-06-072NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of JOSHUA PHILLIPS (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/07/2024)
2024-06-073SEALED DOCUMENT filed by JOSHUA PHILLIPS(This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 06/07/2024)
2024-06-074NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of JOSHUA PHILLIPS (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 06/07/2024)
2024-06-11Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (znmw) (Entered: 06/11/2024)
2024-06-115SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 06/11/2024)
2024-07-026NOTICE of Appearance by Erika Kirstie Oblea on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 07/02/2024)
2024-07-027Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, or Otherwise Respond to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 07/02/2024)
2024-07-07MINUTE ORDER granting Defendants' 7 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to Respond. Defendants shall now respond to Plaintiff's Complaint on or before August 12, 2024. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 07/07/2024. (lcapm3) (Entered: 07/07/2024)
2024-07-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer to complaint due by 8/12/2024. (zakb) (Entered: 07/10/2024)
2024-07-228RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 6/24/2024 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-229RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES served on 7/1/2024 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-2210RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 06/26/2024. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-2211RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/12/2024. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/12/2024. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-08-1212ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 08/12/2024)
2024-08-2113ORDER. Both a Complaint and an Answer are now before the court in this FOIA case. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before September 4, 2024. The Joint Status Report shall include (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. See attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 08/21/2024. (lcapm3) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/4/2024 (zakb) (Entered: 08/22/2024)
2024-08-3014Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 08/30/2024)
2024-09-03MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by October 29, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 09/03/2024. (lcapm3) (Entered: 09/03/2024)
2024-09-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/29/2024. (zakb) (Entered: 09/09/2024)
2024-10-2915Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 10/29/2024)
2024-10-31MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an additional Joint Status Report by December 16, 2024, which updates the court on the processing and production of responsive records. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/31/2024. (lcapm3) (Entered: 10/31/2024)
2024-11-27Case directly reassigned to Judge Amir H. Ali. Judge Amit P. Mehta is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 11/27/2024)
2024-12-1616Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 12/16/2024)
2024-12-17MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall submit another joint status report by February 14, 2025. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 12/17/2024. (lcaha2) (Entered: 12/17/2024)
2025-02-1417Joint STATUS REPORT by JOSHUA PHILLIPS. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 02/14/2025)
2025-02-18MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 17 joint status report. The parties shall file another joint status report by April 25, 2025. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 2/18/2025. (lcaha2) (Entered: 02/18/2025)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar