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Case TitleMATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2016cv00773
Date Filed2016-04-27
Date Closed2019-12-05
JudgeJudge Royce C. Lamberth
PlaintiffMATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
Case DescriptionThe Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., a research and educational society working to uncover documentation of political persecution of the LGBT community, submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning E.O. 10450, an executive order issued during the Eisenhower administration allowing agencies to persecute individuals because of their sexual orientation based on national security claims, from 1950-1990. After more than six years without a response, the FBI disclosed 253 pages, withholding records under Exemption 3 (other statutes) and Exemption 7(D) (confidential sources). The National Security Division disclosed 45 pages. The FBI then disclosed another 254 pages, claiming the same exemptions as well as Exemption 1 (national security) and Exemption 5 (privileges). The Mattachine Society appealed to the Office of Information Policy, which upheld the denials. The Mattachine Society then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Adequacy - Search

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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Opinion/Order [51]
FOIA Project Annotation: Two recent decisions by long-time district court judges have expressed frustration with the FBI's apparent inability and unwillingness to accommodate complex historical requests that require more than a first-in, first out approach, instead taking positions in court that require requesters to either accept decades long delays in processing voluminous records or limiting search parameters in ways that are likely to produce far fewer responsive records. Both Judge Gladys Kessler and Judge Royce Lamberth took the agency to task for failing to explain why delay and search problems could not be resolved in ways that better served the goals of public disclosure of government information. Lamberth's ruling involved a request by the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., for records concerning the implementation of Executive Order 10450, which was signed in 1953 by President Dwight Eisenhower, allowing then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to purge gay and lesbian employees previously identified under the agency's "Sex Deviate Program." In the following decades, the EO was used by the FBI and the U.S. Civil Service Commission to fire thousands of federal employees. Because the program was originally overseen by Warren Burger when he served as head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, the MSDC also requested records concerning Burger's participation in the EO's implementation. The FBI disclosed 552 pages and withheld an additional 583 documents. Believing there must be more records on the program that was in place for 40 years, MSDC filed suit, arguing the agency's search was not adequate. Lamberth agreed. He initially noted that the FBI had limited its search to "Executive Order 10450," "Sex Deviate" and "Sex Deviate Program." He explained that although those search terms might be adequate to uncover records leading up to the EO, the EO itself shifted to using the term "sexual perversion," suggesting that the earlier descriptors would not be likely to uncover subsequently created records. MSDC had suggested broader search terms such as "gay," "lesbian" and "homosexual," but the FBI had rejected them as being too broad. Lamberth, however, noted that "while broad, those terms. . .are directly related to MSDC's specific request; even if there is a large volume of responsive documents, MSDC's request would compel their production." In its defense, the FBI explained that the term "pervert" yielded 5,500 hits. But Lamberth responded that "the FBI has not reviewed any portion of this search or others like it, offers no projections of what the results might be, and does not estimate the number of additional hours, resources, or funds [that] make these searches rise to the level of being an undue burden." He added that the Government provides no context in which to assess the volume of responses as being disproportionately burdensome as compared to similar requests. The FBI is asking the Court to declare that these searches would be unduly burdensome merely because the FBI suspects that they might be so, and that is not sufficient." Lamberth was disturbed by the FBI's response to MSDC's contention that it initially failed to search for records on Burger. Now the agency claimed it had searched all permutations of Burger's name and found no responsive records. Lamberth indicated that "respectfully, this strains credulity. It is suspicious at best, and malicious at worst, for the FBI to assert in one paragraph that the review of 5,500 documents would be too burdensome, and in the next claim to have conducted a review of every document related to any permutation of Warren E. Burger �" Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986, D.C. Circuit Judge from 1956 to 1969, and Chief of the Civil Division of the Justice Department from 1953 to 1956. This absurd dichotomy stretches credulity further, as the FBI claims that the review of that search did not yield a single responsive document. The Court finds it nearly impossible to believe that a search for every permutation of the name of the man charged with carrying out EO 10540, a robust federal mandate that built upon an established FBI initiative, yielded zero responsive documents." In a rather unusual step, Lamberth found that the FBI had properly claimed Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy) and Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records) to protect the names of individuals identified in the records, but because there was a strong public interest in disclosure of the records he required the agency to replace the names with unique alphanumeric markers. This result, he observed, 'will sufficiently protect the privacy interests of all parties involved, while also allowing the public to better study the effects of EO 10450 on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender federal employees who were surveilled, harassed, and/or terminated under this program and others like it."
Issues: Exemption 6 - Invasion of privacy, Exemption 7(C) - Invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records, Search - Reasonableness of search
Opinion/Order [77]
FOIA Project Annotation: Judge Royce Lamberth has awarded the Mattachine Society, a public interest group advocating for gay rights, $178,448.91 in attorney's fees and costs for its litigation against the FBI for records pertaining to the creation and implementation of Executive Order 10450 during the Eisenhower administration, allowing agencies to investigate and terminate federal employees on suspicion of homosexuality. In response to the Mattachine Society's request, the FBI located 861 pages and withheld 846 pages. The Mattachine Society filed suit, arguing that the three search terms used by the agency were inadequate. Lamberth agreed, ordering subsequent searches. He also found that some of the agency's redactions were improper. The Mattachine Society subsequently filed a motion for attorney's fees. The FBI argued that the Mattachine Society was not entitled to attorney's fees because Lamberth had upheld some of its redactions. But Lamberth pointed out that "the Court, however, did not need to find that every single redaction was improper in order for Mattachine to be entitled to fees, as FOIA's requirement is not that a complainant prevailed on 100% of the issues presented â€" FOIA requires only that a complainant 'substantially prevailed.' That is precisely what happened here." Lamberth then assessed the four factors used in determining a plaintiff's entitlement to fees â€" the public interest in disclosure, the commercial interest of the requester, the personal interest of the requester, and whether the agency had a reasonable basis in law. He observed that the FBI acknowledged the public interest in the records was significant and pointed out that "even though only a modest amount of information was disclosed, this factor still turns in favor of Mattachine â€" it is the public value of the request that courts evaluate for significance, not the actual results of the search." He indicated that the FBI did not contest the commercial or personal interest of the Mattachine Society in requesting the records, but explained that "in this case, Mattachine received no commercial gain from its FOIA request. On the contrary, its interest in the information is very much aligned with the public's interest in the information." The FBI argued that its initial limited search did not demonstrate bad faith. Lamberth noted that "this may be true, but those decisions also do not demonstrate reasonableness. Essentially, although the FBI prevailed on some issues raised during summary judgment, many of its actions during the initial search were unreasonable." The Mattachine Society was represented pro bono by the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery. Lamberth explained that "it is worth mentioning that even though McDermott performed its work for Mattachine pro bono, that is not a bar to recovering attorneys' fees, as courts frequently award costs and fees in pro bono cases." An issue that is frequently litigated in attorney's fees cases is which matrix to use to calculate fees. The government has always supported using the USAO Matrix, which has lower hourly rates, while plaintiffs usually advocate for the Laffey Matrix, which contains higher hourly rates. Lamberth chose the Laffey Matrix, specifically because a recent D.C. Circuit decision, DL v. District of Columbia, 924 F.3d 585 (D.C. Cir. 2019), had rejected the USAO Matrix as not being representative of the relevant class of attorneys. Lamberth indicated that the Mattachine Society had explained that under the somewhat more generous Lodestar Method for calculating fees, its fee request would result in a $193,772 award. But, Lamberth observed that "the highest amount Mattachine requests is $178,134 under the Laffey Matrix. The Court will not award Mattachine more than it asks for and finds that the Laffey Matrix appropriately values McDermott's services."
Issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees - Entitlement - Public benefit, Litigation - Attorney's fees - Entitlement - Calculation of award
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2016-04-271COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-4501514) filed by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8, # 9 Exhibit 9, # 10 Exhibit 10, # 11 Exhibit 11, # 12 Exhibit 12, # 13 Exhibit 13, # 14 Exhibit 14, # 15 Exhibit 15, # 16 Exhibit 16, # 17 Exhibit 17, # 18 Exhibit 18, # 19 Exhibit 19, # 20 Exhibit 20, # 21 Exhibit 21, # 22 Exhibit 22, # 23 Exhibit 23, # 24 Exhibit 24, # 25 Civil Cover Sheet, # 26 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 27 Summons Att'y Gen., # 28 Summons U.s. Dep't Justice)(Rogaczewski, Joshua) (Entered: 04/27/2016)
2016-04-272Corporate Disclosure Statement by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Rogaczewski, Joshua) (Entered: 04/27/2016)
2016-04-27Case Assigned to Judge Royce C. Lamberth. (sth) (Entered: 04/27/2016)
2016-04-273NOTICE of Appearance by Paul Michael Thompson on behalf of MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thompson, Paul) Modified on 4/28/2016 (zrdj). (Entered: 04/27/2016)
2016-04-284SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons)(sth) (Entered: 04/28/2016)
2016-05-135RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/29/2016. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/29/2016. (Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/13/2016)
2016-05-136RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/2/16. (Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/13/2016)
2016-05-137RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 5/2/2016 (Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/13/2016)
2016-05-138MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Ashley N. Evans, :Firm- McDermott Will & Emery LLP, :Address- 340 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10173-1922. Phone No. - (212) 547-5772. Fax No. - (212) 547-5444 Filing fee $ 100, receipt number 0090-4527821. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/13/2016)
2016-05-139MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Michael R. Huttenlocher, :Firm- McDrmott Will & Emery LLP, :Address- 340 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10173-1922. Phone No. - (212) 547-5482. Fax No. - (212) 547-5444 Filing fee $ 100, receipt number 0090-4527857. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/13/2016)
2016-05-1310MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Lisa A. Linsky, :Firm- McDermott Will & Emery LLP, :Address- 340 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10173-1922. Phone No. - (212) 547-5587. Fax No. - (212) 547-5444 Filing fee $ 100, receipt number 0090-4527875. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/13/2016)
2016-05-1311MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Lisa Ann Gerson, :Firm- McDermott Will & Emery LLP, :Address- 340 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10173-1922. Phone No. - (212) 547-5769. Fax No. - (212) 547-5444 Filing fee $ 100, receipt number 0090-4528150. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/13/2016)
2016-05-1612MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Krista A. Meany, :Firm- McDermott Will & Emery LLP, :Address- 340 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10173-1922. Phone No. - (212) 547-5692. Fax No. - (212) 547-5444 Filing fee $ 100, receipt number 0090-4528807. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/16/2016)
2016-05-3113Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,,, by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 05/31/2016)
2016-06-0314ORDER granting 13 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer 1 Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; it is hereby ORDERED that defendant's Answer and/or other response to the Complaint shall be due on or before June 30, 2016. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 6/1/2016. (tg) (Entered: 06/03/2016)
2016-06-0915NOTICE of Appearance by Irene Angelica Firippis on behalf of MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Firippis, Irene) (Entered: 06/09/2016)
2016-06-2016ORDER granting 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Ashley N. Evans. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on June 20, 2016.(lcrcl3) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-2017ORDER granting 9 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Michael R. Huttenlocher. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on June 20, 2016.(lcrcl3) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-2018ORDER granting 10 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Lisa A. Linsky. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on June 20, 2016.(lcrcl3) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-2019ORDER granting 11 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Lisa Ann Gerson. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on June 20, 2016.(lcrcl3) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-2020ORDER granting 12 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Krista A. Meany. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on June 20, 2016.(lcrcl3) (Entered: 06/20/2016)
2016-06-3021ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 06/30/2016)
2016-07-0522ORDER: An answer having been filed herein in this case brought under the Freedom of Information Act, the defendant shall file any dispositive motions within 10 days of this date, or such time as the Court allows upon proper motion. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 7/05/2016. (ad). (Entered: 07/06/2016)
2016-07-0823Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Motion for Production Schedule and Extension of Time to File Dispositive Motion by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 07/08/2016)
2016-07-1224ORDER granting 23 Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Production Schedule and Extension of Time to File Dispositive Motions. It is ORDERED that the Defendant shall complete its processing and release of responsive documents within 60 days; it is further ORDERED that the Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before 10/6/2016. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 7/11/2016. (tg) (Entered: 07/12/2016)
2016-09-0925CONSENT TO THE FILING OF AN AMENDED COMPLAINT by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 09/09/2016)
2016-09-0926AMENDED COMPLAINT For Injunctive Relief Under the Freedom of Information Act against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE filed by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8, # 9 Exhibit 9, # 10 Exhibit 10, # 11 Exhibit 11, # 12 Exhibit 12, # 13 Exhibit 13, # 14 Exhibit 14, # 15 Exhibit 15, # 16 Exhibit 16, # 17 Exhibit 17, # 18 Exhibit 18, # 19 Exhibit 19, # 20 Exhibit 20, # 21 Exhibit 21, # 22 Exhibit 22, # 23 Exhibit 23, # 24 Exhibit 24, # 25 Exhibit 25, # 26 Exhibit 26, # 27 Exhibit 27, # 28 Certificate of Service)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 09/09/2016)
2016-10-0427Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 10/04/2016)
2016-10-1728ORDER granting 27 Motion for Extension of Time to File. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 10/14/2016. (lcrcl3, ) (Entered: 10/17/2016)
2016-10-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Summary Judgment motion due by 11/21/2016. (tg) (Entered: 10/17/2016)
2016-11-0129MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 26 Amended Complaint,, by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 11/01/2016)
2016-11-0130ANSWER to 26 Amended Complaint,, by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Related document: 26 Amended Complaint,, filed by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C..(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 11/01/2016)
2016-11-1832ORDER granting 29 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer: It is hereby ORDERED that Defendant's Answer and/or other response to Plaintiff's Amended Complaint shall be due on or before November 1, 2016, nunc pro tunc. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/17/2016. (ad) Modified on 11/21/2016 to correct the filed date(ad). (Entered: 11/21/2016)
2016-11-1833ORDER: The Court hereby ORDERS that the parties shall meet and confer regarding a proposal scheduling order for further proceedings herein, and shall submit a proposed scheduling order by December 1, 2016, jointly if possible, separately if necessary. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/18/2016. (ad) (Entered: 11/21/2016)
2016-11-2131Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 11/21/2016)
2016-11-21Set/Reset Deadline: The parties shall meet and confer regarding a proposal scheduling order for further proceedings herein, and shall submit a proposed scheduling order by 12/1/2016. (ad) (Entered: 11/21/2016)
2016-11-2934PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE re Set/Reset Deadlines by the Parties by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 11/29/2016)
2016-11-2935ORDER granting 31 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File: It is hereby ORDERED that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before November 30, 2016. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/28/2016. (ad) (Entered: 11/29/2016)
2016-11-29Set/Reset Deadline: Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before 11/30/2016. (ad) (Entered: 11/29/2016)
2016-12-0136ORDER ADOPTING the parties 34 Proposed Briefing Schedule. The parties shall comply with the following schedule: Defendant's Summary Judgment motion due by 12/6/2016; Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 1/30/2017; Defendant's Reply to Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 2/21/2017. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/30/2016. (tg) (Entered: 12/01/2016)
2016-12-0637MOTION for Summary Judgment by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Hardy Declaration and Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Pineiro Declaration and Exhibits, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Kim Declaration, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Ross, Carl) (Entered: 12/06/2016)
2017-01-1838NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Melanie Dyani Hendry on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Carl Ross (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 01/18/2017)
2017-01-3039Consent MOTION to Amend/Correct Scheduling Order by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 01/30/2017)
2017-01-3040RESPONSE re 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Opposition, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 01/30/2017)
2017-01-3041Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 01/30/2017)
2017-02-0142ORDER granting 39 Motion to Amend/Correct. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 2/1/2017. (lcrcl1, ) (Entered: 02/01/2017)
2017-03-2743REPLY to opposition to motion re 37 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Second Declaration of David M. Hardy, # 2 Declaration Second Declaration of Susan L. Kim)(Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 03/27/2017)
2017-03-2744RESPONSE re 41 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Second Declaration of David M. Hardy, # 2 Second Declaration of Susan L. Kim, # 3 Defendant's Response to Plaintiff's Statement of Material Facts)(Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 03/27/2017)
2017-03-2845Consent MOTION for Scheduling Order Amendment by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 03/28/2017)
2017-04-0746ORDER granting 45 Motion for Scheduling Order. Plaintiff's Reply to Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment due by 4/14/2017. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 4/6/17. (zlsj) (Entered: 04/07/2017)
2017-04-1447REPLY to opposition to motion re 41 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 04/14/2017)
2017-07-0348ORDER re 40 cross-motion filed by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. DOJ shall promptly produce unredacted documents for ex parte, in camera review.. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 7/3/17. (lcrcl1, ) (Entered: 07/03/2017)
2017-07-0749NOTICE of Submission for In Camera Review by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE re 48 Order (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 07/07/2017)
2017-07-1950NOTICE of Submission for In Camera Review by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 07/19/2017)
2017-07-2851MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 7/28/17. (lcrcl1, ) (Entered: 07/28/2017)
2017-07-2852ORDER granting in part and denying in part 37 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting in part and denying in part 41 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 7/28/17. (lcrcl1, ) (Entered: 07/28/2017)
2017-08-0853MOTION for Extension of Time to File Its Motion for Attorney's Fees and Costs and Supporting Memorandum by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 08/08/2017)
2017-08-1854ORDER granting 53 Motion for Extension of Time to August 25, 2017.. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 8/18/2017. (lcrcl1, ) (Entered: 08/18/2017)
2017-08-2555MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit A - Francis Declaration, # 3 Exhibit B - Thompson Declaration, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 08/25/2017)
2017-09-0856Consent MOTION to Stay re 55 MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs Pending Conclusion of Litigation by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Firippis, Irene) (Entered: 09/08/2017)
2017-09-1357ORDER denying 55 Motion for Attorney Fees without prejudice at this time. Further ORDERED that 56 Motion to Stay Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs Pending Completion of Litigation is hereby DENIED. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 9/13/17. (lsj) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2018-10-0558ORDER directing the parties to meet and confer and file a joint status report, including a proposed scheduling order. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 10/05/2018. (lcrcl3) Modified on 10/9/2018 (zlsj). (Entered: 10/05/2018)
2018-11-0559Joint STATUS REPORT and Proposed Scheduling Order by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 11/05/2018)
2018-11-1960MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit A - Francis Declaration, # 3 Exhibit B - Thompson Declaration, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 11/19/2018)
2018-11-2661ORDER granting the joint proposed scheduling order 59 nunc pro tunc. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/21/2018. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 11/26/2018)
2018-11-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees due by 12/21/2018. Plaintiff's Reply due by 1/14/2019. (lsj) (Entered: 11/26/2018)
2018-12-2062Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 12/20/2018)
2018-12-2263ORDER granting 62 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply re 60 MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs. Defendant's opposition shall be due on 1/8/2019. Plaintiff's reply shall be due on 1/25/2019. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 12/22/2018. (lcrcl1) (Entered: 12/22/2018)
2019-01-0764Consent MOTION to Stay in light of Lapse in Appropriations by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 01/07/2019)
2019-01-1665ORDER granting 64 Motion to Stay. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 1/16/2019. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 01/16/2019)
2019-02-2866NOTICE of Motion Ripe for Decision by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 02/28/2019)
2019-03-0167ORDER sua sponte vacating stay. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 03/01/2019. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 03/01/2019)
2019-03-2168MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply to Fee Motion by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 03/21/2019)
2019-04-0969ORDER granting 68 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 04/08/2019. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Replies due by 5/9/2019. (lsj) (Entered: 04/11/2019)
2019-04-2370Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply , Consent MOTION for Briefing Schedule by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 04/23/2019)
2019-05-0271ORDER granting 70 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply re 60 MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs; entering 70 Briefing Schedule. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 05/01/2019. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 05/02/2019)
2019-05-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Responses due by 5/9/2019. Replies due by 5/31/2019. (lsj) (Entered: 05/03/2019)
2019-05-0972Memorandum in opposition to re 60 MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs filed by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Declaration of David M. Hardy)(Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 05/09/2019)
2019-05-3173REPLY to opposition to motion re 60 MOTION for Attorney Fees and Costs filed by MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1)(Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-08-0774NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by John Moustakas on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Melanie Hendry (Moustakas, John) (Entered: 08/07/2019)
2019-11-1375NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.. Attorney Irene Angelica Firippis terminated. (Thompson, Paul) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
2019-11-2776ORDER granting 60 Motion for Attorneys' Fees. Defendant shall pay plaintiff $178,134 in attorneys' fees and $314.91 in costs for a total of $178,448.91. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/27/2019. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 11/27/2019)
2019-11-2777MEMORANDUM OPINION re Order 76 . Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/27/2019. (lcrcl2) (Entered: 11/27/2019)
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