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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2014cv01936
Date Filed2014-11-18
Date Closed2015-04-13
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Defense for records related to payment by the U.S. or a third party to another state as part of the agreement for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from captivity in Afghanistan. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told Judicial Watch that it would be unable to respond within the statutory time limit. Judicial Watch then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
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

2014-11-181COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-3909248) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Department of Defense, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney General)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 11/18/2014)
2014-11-182LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 11/18/2014)
2014-11-18Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (md, ) (Entered: 11/19/2014)
2014-11-193SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons 2nd, # 2 Summons 3rd, # 3 Notice of Consent, # 4 Consent Form) (md, ) (Entered: 11/19/2014)
2014-12-014RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 12/1/2014. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/31/2014.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 12/1/2014., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE served on 11/28/2014 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 12/01/2014)
2014-12-195NOTICE of Appearance by Robin Frances Thurston on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 12/19/2014)
2014-12-316ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 12/31/2014)
2015-01-13MINUTE 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 should 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 and that contains a proposed schedule and order not later than 1/27/15. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 1/13/15. (DJS) (Entered: 01/13/2015)
2015-01-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 1/27/2015. (sm) (Entered: 01/14/2015)
2015-01-277STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 01/27/2015)
2015-01-28MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report 7 , it is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule is adopted: Defendant shall complete its search and production of records by March 27, 2015. Thereafter, the parties shall meet and confer, and by April 10, 2015, shall file a status report identifying whether any further issues remain in the case and proposing a schedule. Any proposed schedule shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 1/28/15. (DJS) (Entered: 01/28/2015)
2015-01-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 4/10/2015. (sm) (Entered: 01/28/2015)
2015-04-108STIPULATION of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 04/10/2015)
2015-04-139ORDER of DISMISSAL: In light of the Joint Stipulation of Dismissal filed by the parties 8 , this action is hereby dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). Each party to bear its own expenses. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 4/13/14. (DJS) (Entered: 04/13/2015)
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