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Case TitleCATO INSTITUTE v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv01973
Date Filed2024-07-08
Date Closed2025-05-16
JudgeJudge Sparkle L. Sooknanan
PlaintiffCATO INSTITUTE
Case DescriptionCato Institute submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning situational information reports produced by any Strategic Information Operation Centers established between January 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied Cato Institute's request for a fee waiver. The agency told Cato Institute that it had found 10,596 responsive pages and would release them at a cost of $325 for CDS or $524 for hard copies. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Cato Institute filed suit.
Complaint issues: Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2024-07-081COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11009792) filed by CATO INSTITUTE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/08/2024)
2024-07-082NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of CATO INSTITUTE (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 07/08/2024)
2024-07-083NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of CATO INSTITUTE (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 07/08/2024)
2024-07-09Case Assigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. (znmw) (Entered: 07/09/2024)
2024-07-094SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 07/09/2024)
2024-08-025RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 7/18/2024 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 08/02/2024)
2024-08-026RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 7/22/2024 (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 08/02/2024)
2024-08-027RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 07/22/2024. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 08/02/2024)
2024-08-028RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/9/2024. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/8/2024. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 08/02/2024)
2024-08-069NOTICE of Appearance by Erika Kirstie Oblea on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 08/06/2024)
2024-08-0610Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, or Otherwise Respond by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 08/06/2024)
2024-08-07MINUTE ORDER granting 10 Motion for Extension of Time. Defendants must respond to the complaint by September 9, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/7/2024. (lcabj1) (Entered: 08/07/2024)
2024-09-0911ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 09/09/2024)
2024-09-11MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of Local Civil Rule 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure appear to be inapplicable. Defendant must file a dispositive motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for the completion of its production of documents to plaintiff, on or before October 10, 2024. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 9/11/2024. (lcabj1) (Entered: 09/11/2024)
2024-10-1012STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 10/10/2024)
2024-10-15MINUTE ORDER. In light of 12 defendants' status report, defendants are ORDERED to file another status report by January 6, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 10/15/2024. (lcabj1) (Entered: 10/15/2024)
2025-01-0613STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 01/06/2025)
2025-01-07MINUTE ORDER. In light of 13 defendants' status report, defendants are ORDERED to file another status report by April 7, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/7/2025. (lcabj1) (Entered: 01/07/2025)
2025-01-07Case directly reassigned to Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan. Judge Amy Berman Jackson is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 01/07/2025)
2025-04-0714STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Oblea, Erika) (Entered: 04/07/2025)
2025-04-10MINUTE ORDER: In light of the Defendants' 14 Status Report, the Court ORDERS the Defendants to file a further status report by June 9, 2025. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 4/10/2025. (lcas) (Entered: 04/10/2025)
2025-05-1515STIPULATION of Dismissal by CATO INSTITUTE. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 05/15/2025)
2025-05-16MINUTE ORDER: In light of Joint Stipulation 15 of Dismissal with Prejudice, this case is dismissed. The Clerk of the Court is directed to terminate this case from the active docket. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 5/16/2025. (lsj) (Entered: 05/16/2025)
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