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Case TitlePOWER THE FUTURE v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv02120
Date Filed2024-07-19
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Ana C. Reyes
PlaintiffPOWER THE FUTURE
Case DescriptionPower the Future submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning text messages from a named official over a nine-week period. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency. Power the Future filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF STATE
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

2024-07-191COMPLAINT Under the Freedom of Information Act against DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11038159) filed by POWER THE FUTURE. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Hardin, Matthew) (Entered: 07/19/2024)
2024-07-192NOTICE of Appearance by Christopher Cochran Horner on behalf of POWER THE FUTURE (Horner, Christopher) (Entered: 07/19/2024)
2024-07-22Case Assigned to Judge Ana C. Reyes. (znmw) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-223SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 07/22/2024)
2024-07-294STANDING ORDER. The Court ORDERS the parties to comply with its Standing Order. See Standing Order for details. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 7/29/2024. (lcsj) (Entered: 07/29/2024)
2024-08-125NOTICE of Appearance by Dedra Seibel Curteman on behalf of All Defendants (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 08/12/2024)
2024-08-126NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen DeGenaro on behalf of All Defendants (DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 08/12/2024)
2024-08-127NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by All Defendants. Case related to Case No. 24-0465, 24-2070, 24-2078, 24-2145, 24-2149, 24-2151, 24-2168, 24-2196. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 08/12/2024)
2024-08-138RESPONSE re 7 Notice of Related Case filed by POWER THE FUTURE. (Hardin, Matthew) (Entered: 08/13/2024)
2024-08-139MOTION to Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 08/13/2024)
2024-08-2110NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY by POWER THE FUTURE (Hardin, Matthew) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-2111ERRATA (correcting failure to attach the relevant order from Case No. 1:24-cv-465) by POWER THE FUTURE re 10 NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY. (Hardin, Matthew) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-22MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court is Defendant's 9 Motion to Stay. The Motion seeks a stay "pending the resolution of a forthcoming motion to consolidate that the government anticipates filing within thirty days in response to a request from the Court in Power [t]he Future v. [U.S.] Dep't of State , Civ. A. No. 24-0465 (ABJ) (D.D.C.)." Dkt. 9 at 1. Judge Jackson has since found that these cases are not related and denied Defendant's motion for a schedule to brief consolidation. Min. Order of Aug. 21, 2024 (Case No. 24-cv-465). The Court therefore sees no basis to stay this case and DENIES Defendant's Motion without prejudice. The Court notes that the filing (as opposed to the Court's granting) of a motion to stay a case (or to extend a deadline) does not affect any pending deadlines, and so Defendant's response to Plaintiff's 1 Complaint remains due on the ordinary timeline set by 5 U.S.C. § 552. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 8/22/2024. (lcar3) (Entered: 08/22/2024)
2024-08-2212ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 08/22/2024)
2024-08-2313NOTICE of Filing Motion to Consolidate in Related Case Civ. A. No. 24-2078 by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 08/23/2024)
2024-09-2514NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY by POWER THE FUTURE (Horner, Christopher) (Entered: 09/25/2024)
2024-10-11MINUTE ORDER. Plaintiff filed this Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) action on July 19, 2024. Dkt. 1 . Defendant filed its Answer on August 22, 2024. Dkt. 12 . Cases filed under FOIA are exempt from the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) and Local Civil Rule 16.3. See LCvR 16.3(b)(10). Accordingly, the Court hereby ORDERS the parties to meet and confer and file a joint status report on or before November 11, 2024. The joint status report should address, among other things, (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA requests; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA requests; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of those documents; and (4) whether a motion for a stay under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force , 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976), is likely. As set forth in Section 5(d) of the Court's Standing Order, if the parties agree on a proposed schedule for submitting a further joint status report, they should assume that the Court approves the proposed date unless the Court enters an order to the contrary. Counsel shall not contact Chambers directly concerning scheduling or other matters, as Chambers personnel will not handle questions relating to the status or scheduling of pending matters, except in case of an emergency. In an emergency, Chambers can be reached at (202) 354-3350. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 10/11/2024. (lcacr2) (Entered: 10/11/2024)
2024-11-0415NOTICE of Appearance by Nathaniel Lindzen on behalf of POWER THE FUTURE (Lindzen, Nathaniel) (Entered: 11/04/2024)
2024-11-1116Joint STATUS REPORT by POWER THE FUTURE. (Hardin, Matthew) (Entered: 11/11/2024)
2024-12-2617NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to POWER THE FUTURE. Attorney Nathaniel Lindzen terminated. (Lindzen, Nathaniel) (Entered: 12/26/2024)
2025-02-0518Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 02/05/2025)
2025-05-0619Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (DeGenaro, Stephen) (Entered: 05/06/2025)
2025-06-0220NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Stephanie R. Johnson on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Stephen DeGenaro (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 06/02/2025)
2025-06-1021NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. Attorney Dedra Seibel Curteman terminated. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 06/10/2025)
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