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Case TitleSingh et al v. U.S. Department of State et al
DistrictWestern District of Washington
CitySeattle
Case Number2:2018cv01210
Date Filed2018-08-16
Date Closed2020-01-15
JudgeJudge Thomas S. Zilly
PlaintiffGurnek Singh
PlaintiffPawan Deep Kaur
Case DescriptionGurnek Singh and Pawan Deep Kaur submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning an I-130 Petition for an Alien Relative filed by Singh in 2010 on behalf of his wife and why the petition was denied in 2015. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Singh and Kaur filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. Department of State
DefendantUS Department of State
DefendantMichael R. Pompeo in his official capacity as Secretary of State
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Opinion/Order [7]
Opinion/Order [12]
Opinion/Order [14]
Opinion/Order [16]
Opinion/Order [24]
Opinion/Order [27]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-08-161SEALED DOCUMENT COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against All Defendants (Receipt # 0981-5437757), filed by Gurnek Singh and Pawan Deep Kaur. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet)(Edward, Carol) Modified on 8/20/2018 at the request of finance to correct the case number. (ST) Modified on 8/20/2018 to seal Complaint; document contains identifiers that must be redacted per FRCP 5.2 (full last name of minor child) (KB). (Entered: 08/16/2018)
2018-08-20Judge Thomas S. Zilly added. (ST) (Entered: 08/20/2018)
2018-08-202Summons(es) Electronically Issued as to defendant(s) Michael R. Pompeo, U.S. Department of State (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(ST) (Entered: 08/20/2018)
2018-08-20NOTICE TO FILER: re 1 Complaint. The exhibits attached to the complaint contain personal identifiers that must be redacted pursuant to FRCP 5.2 and LCR 5.2. Specifically, the pictures of the minor child on pages 3, 8 and 9 must be redacted as well as the personal identifier on page 25. You are required to re-file a redacted version of your document using the event " Redacted Document " located in the Other Documents category. This event will allow you to link back to your original filing and will not affect your original filing date. Pursuant to FRCP 5.2 and LCR 5.2, the document(s) have been administratively sealed by the Court. (ST) (Entered: 08/20/2018)
2018-08-203NOTICE TO FILER: re 1 Complaint. Notice of Filing Deficiency ** Action Required ** See Attached Letter for More Information and Instructions. (ST) (Entered: 08/20/2018)
2018-08-204REDACTION to 1 Complaint Notice to Filer , by Plaintiff Gurnek Singh (Edward, Carol) Modified docket entry relationship on 8/21/2018 (SWT). (Entered: 08/20/2018)
2018-08-215REDACTION to 1 Complaint 4 Redacted Document, 3 Notice to Filer, Notice to Filer ,, by Plaintiff Gurnek Singh (Edward, Carol) Modified docket entry relationship on 8/22/2018 (SWT). (Entered: 08/21/2018)
2018-08-236REDACTION to 1 Complaint,, by Plaintiff Gurnek Singh (Edward, Carol) (Entered: 08/23/2018)
2018-09-057ORDER setting deadline for parties to file a Joint Status Report. Joint Status Report due by 12/4/2018. Signed by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (PM) (Entered: 09/05/2018)
2018-11-168NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Michelle R. Lambert on behalf of Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, U.S. Department of State. (Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 11/16/2018)
2018-11-169ANSWER to 1 Complaint,, by Michael R. Pompeo, U.S. Department of State.(Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 11/16/2018)
2018-12-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Per telephonic request of counsel, the Joint Status Report deadline is extended to 1/22/2019. (KD) (Entered: 12/03/2018)
2019-01-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Per telephonic request of counsel, the Joint Status Report deadline is extended to 2/21/2019. (KD) (Entered: 01/15/2019)
2019-02-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Per telephonic request of counsel, the Joint Status Report deadline is extended to 3/26/19. (KD) (Entered: 02/21/2019)
2019-03-2610Joint STATUS REPORT by Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, US Department of State (Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 03/26/2019)
2019-04-1611Joint STATUS REPORT by Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, US Department of State (Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 04/16/2019)
2019-04-1712MINUTE ORDER directing parties to file a Joint Status Report on or before 5/31/2019. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (SWT) (Entered: 04/17/2019)
2019-05-3113JOINT STATUS REPORT signed by all parties (Edward, Carol) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-06-0314MINUTE ORDER directing parties to file a Joint Status Report on or before 6/14/2019. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (SWT) (Entered: 06/03/2019)
2019-06-1415Joint STATUS REPORT by Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, US Department of State (Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 06/14/2019)
2019-06-2116MINUTE ORDER setting the following dates and deadlines: Defendant' dispositive motion shall be filed by 7/25/2019, plaintiffs' response and cross-motion shall be filed by 8/22/2019, defendants' reply and response to cross-motion shall be filed by 9/13/2019, plaintiffs' reply shall be filed by 9/22/2019. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (SWT) (Entered: 06/21/2019)
2019-07-2517MOTION for Summary Judgment , filed by Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, US Department of State. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) Noting Date 9/22/2019, (Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 07/25/2019)
2019-07-2518DECLARATION of Stein filed by Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, US Department of State re 17 MOTION for Summary Judgment (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit)(Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 07/25/2019)
2019-08-2019Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment Opposition to Defendants MSJ , filed by Plaintiff Gurnek Singh. Noting Date 9/20/2019, (Edward, Carol) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
2019-08-2020Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment Opposition to Defendants MSJ , filed by Plaintiff Gurnek Singh. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order Proposed Order Cross SMJ) Noting Date 9/20/2019, (Edward, Carol) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
2019-09-1321REPLY, filed by Defendant US Department of State, TO RESPONSE to 17 MOTION for Summary Judgment (Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-09-1322DECLARATION of Stein filed by Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, US Department of State re 17 MOTION for Summary Judgment (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Lambert, Michelle) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-09-2123REPLY, filed by Plaintiff Gurnek Singh, TO RESPONSE to 17 MOTION for Summary Judgment (Edward, Carol) (Entered: 09/21/2019)
2019-10-2524MINUTE ORDER deferring and RENOTING to 11/8/2019, Defendants' 17 MOTION for Summary Judgment and Plaintiffs' 20 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment. Within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Minute Order, Defendant shall provide for in camera review of documents 13-14; 36-49; and 52-55 as numbered in Defendants' Vaughn index, docket 18 -1. Within fourteen (14) days of this minute order, Defendants are DIRECTED to: (1) Supplement the descriptions of documents 13-14; 36-49; and 52-55 in Defendants' Vaughn index, docket 18 -1 to further describe each document and explain the basis for the claimed exception; and (2) Date every document in the Vaughn index. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (SWT) (Entered: 10/25/2019)
2019-11-0825SUPPLEMENT (Third Declaration of Eric Stein) re 24 Minute Order,,,, Util - Set/Reset Motion Noting Date,,, by Defendants Michael R. Pompeo, US Department of State (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Lambert, Michelle) Modified docket text on 11/11/2019 (SWT). (Entered: 11/08/2019)
2020-01-1527ORDER granting Defendants' 17 Motion for Summary Judgment; denying Plaintiffs' 20 Cross Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Thomas S. Zilly.(MW) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-01-1528JUDGMENT BY COURT: Defendants U.S. Department of State's and Secretary Michael R. Pompeo's Motion for Summary Judgment, docket no. 17 , is GRANTED. Plaintiffs' Complaint is DISMISSED with prejudice.(MW) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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