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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv02181
Date Filed2024-07-24
Date Closed2025-03-05
JudgeJudge Sparkle L. Sooknanan
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning the approval and subsequent denial of Christina Urso's request to be authorized as an approved visitor of Paul Bellar, an inmate at the Schuylkill federal prison. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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

2024-07-241COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11048358) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Justice, # 3 Summons US Atty for DC, # 4 Summons US Atty General)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 07/24/2024)
2024-07-242LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 07/24/2024)
2024-07-25Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (znmw) (Entered: 07/25/2024)
2024-07-253SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 07/25/2024)
2024-07-254STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/25/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 07/25/2024)
2024-08-145RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/30/2024. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/29/2024.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. United States Attorney General served 8/7/2024, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 8/8/2024 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) Modified on 8/16/2024 to add date Attorney General served(zjm). (Entered: 08/14/2024)
2024-08-216NOTICE of Appearance by Tabitha Bartholomew on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 08/21/2024)
2024-08-267Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 08/26/2024)
2024-08-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer to Complaint, Dkt. 7 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant United States Department of Justice shall respond to the complaint on or before September 12, 2024. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 08/29/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 08/29/2024)
2024-09-128ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 09/12/2024)
2024-09-139ORDER: The Initial Scheduling Conference is hereby set for October 7, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Courtroom 8. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall submit a report and a proposed scheduling order pursuant to Local Civil Rule 16.3(d) on or before September 30, 2024. See attached order for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 09/13/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 09/13/2024)
2024-09-3010Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 09/30/2024)
2024-10-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 10 , it is hereby ORDERED that the Initial Scheduling Conference scheduled for October 7, 2024, is VACATED. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before November 26, 2024. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/01/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 10/01/2024)
2024-11-2611Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 11/26/2024)
2024-12-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 11 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before January 27, 2025. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/1/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 12/01/2024)
2025-01-10Case directly reassigned to Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan. Judge Randolph D. Moss is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 01/10/2025)
2025-01-2712Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 01/27/2025)
2025-01-27MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 12 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before March 28, 2025. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 1/27/2025. (lcas) (Entered: 01/27/2025)
2025-01-2813Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Bartholomew, Tabitha) (Entered: 01/28/2025)
2025-01-28MINUTE ORDER granting 13 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report. The joint status report is due by 4/2/2025. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 1/28/2025. (lcas) (Entered: 01/28/2025)
2025-03-0414STIPULATION of Dismissal with Prejudice by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 03/04/2025)
2025-03-05MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 14 Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice, the Court dismisses this case with prejudice. The Clerk of the Court is directed to terminate the case from the active docket. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 3/5/2025. (lcas) (Entered: 03/05/2025)
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