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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2015cv00223
Date Filed2015-02-13
Date Closed2015-09-18
JudgeJudge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Health and Human Services for records concerning any consulting contracts between the agency and Jonathan Gruber. A month later, Judicial Watch submitted a second FOIA request to the agency for records concerning any communications between the agency and Gruber concerning the Affordable Healthcare Act. The agency acknowledged receipt of both requests, 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 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

2015-02-131COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-3993731) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons HHS, # 3 Summons US Attorney, # 4 Summons US Attorney General)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 02/13/2015)
2015-02-132LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 02/13/2015)
2015-02-13Case Assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell. (sth, ) (Entered: 02/13/2015)
2015-02-133SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons)(sth, ) (Entered: 02/13/2015)
2015-02-134STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on February 13, 2015. (lcbah1) (Entered: 02/13/2015)
2015-02-265RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 2/26/2015. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 3/28/2015.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 2/26/2015., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES served on 2/26/2015 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 02/26/2015)
2015-03-236NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin Leon Berwick on behalf of All Defendants (Berwick, Benjamin) (Entered: 03/23/2015)
2015-03-237Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Berwick, Benjamin) (Entered: 03/23/2015)
2015-03-23MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING the defendant's 7 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to the Complaint. The defendant shall, by April 17, 2015, respond to the plaintiff's 1 Complaint. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 23, 2015. (lcbah1) (Entered: 03/23/2015)
2015-03-23Set/Reset Deadline: The defendant shall, by April 17, 2015, respond to the plaintiff's 1 Complaint. (ad) (Entered: 03/23/2015)
2015-04-178ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.(Berwick, Benjamin) (Entered: 04/17/2015)
2015-05-019STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 05/01/2015)
2015-05-01MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties to submit jointly to the Court, by June 19, 2015, a proposed briefing schedule to control further proceedings in this matter, in light of the parties' 9 Joint Status Report. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on May 1, 2015. (lcbah1) (Entered: 05/01/2015)
2015-05-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 6/19/2015. (tg, ) (Entered: 05/04/2015)
2015-06-1910STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 06/19/2015)
2015-06-19MINUTE ORDER (paperless) ISSUING the following SCHEDULING ORDER, in light of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report: the defendant shall, by July 24, 2015, provide "a draft Vaughn index" to the plaintiff, 10 Joint Status Report at 1; the parties shall, by August 14, 2015, submit jointly a proposed schedule to control further proceedings in this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 19, 2015. (lcbah1) (Entered: 06/19/2015)
2015-06-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Draft Vaughn Index due by 7/24/2015; Joint proposed schedule due by 8/14/2015. (tg) (Entered: 06/22/2015)
2015-07-2911NOTICE of Appearance by Emily Sue Newton on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Newton, Emily) (Entered: 07/29/2015)
2015-08-1412STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Newton, Emily) (Entered: 08/14/2015)
2015-08-17MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, by September 11, 2015, to file jointly a proposed schedule to control further proceedings in this matter, in light of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 17, 2015. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/17/2015)
2015-08-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Schedule due by 9/11/2015. (tg) (Entered: 08/17/2015)
2015-09-1113Joint STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 09/11/2015)
2015-09-1814STIPULATION of Dismissal with prejudice by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Newton, Emily) (Entered: 09/18/2015)
2015-09-18MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DISMISSING this matter, with prejudice, pursuant to the parties' 14 Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice; in accordance with the stipulation, each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys' fees. The Clerk is directed to close the case. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 18, 2015. (lcbah1) (Entered: 09/18/2015)
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