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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv00574
Date Filed2019-03-01
Date Closed2020-12-23
JudgeJudge Reggie B. Walton
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning communications between Ambassador Victoria Nuland and a number of identified individuals. 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 STATE
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

2019-03-011COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5975493) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Department of State)(Peterson, James) (Entered: 03/01/2019)
2019-03-012LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Peterson, James) (Entered: 03/01/2019)
2019-03-01Case Assigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton. (zef, ) (Entered: 03/01/2019)
2019-03-013SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 03/01/2019)
2019-03-084RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/8/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/7/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/8/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 3/8/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Peterson, James) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-085GENERAL ORDER FOR CIVIL CASES BEFORE THE HONORABLE REGGIE B. WALTON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on March 8, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-04-086NOTICE of Appearance by James O. Bickford on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Bickford, James) (Entered: 04/08/2019)
2019-04-087ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Bickford, James) (Entered: 04/08/2019)
2019-04-09MINUTE ORDER. To ensure the expeditious resolution of this action, and because this action qualifies as an exempted case under Local Civil Rule 16.3(b), it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint proposed schedule governing further proceedings on or before April 30, 2019. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on April 9, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-09Set/Reset Deadlines: joint proposed schedule governing further proceedings due by 4/30/2019. (hs) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-308Joint STATUS REPORT Proposing Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 04/30/2019)
2019-05-02MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Proposed Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before June 14, 2019, the defendant shall make its initial production to the plaintiff. It is further ORDERED that, on or before June 28, 2019, the parties shall file a joint proposed schedule governing further proceedings. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on May 2, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 05/02/2019)
2019-05-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint proposed schedule by 6/28/2019. (gdf) (Entered: 05/02/2019)
2019-06-279Joint STATUS REPORT With Proposed Production Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 06/27/2019)
2019-07-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 9 Joint Proposed Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant shall make additional productions to the plaintiff on July 16, 2019; August 16, 2019; and September 16, 2019. It is further ORDERED that, on or before September 23, 2019, the parties shall file an additional joint status report discussing how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on July 1, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 07/01/2019)
2019-07-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/23/2019 (gdf) (Entered: 07/01/2019)
2019-09-1610Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Production by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bickford, James) (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 10 Consent Motion for Extension of Production Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall make a final production to the plaintiff on October 18, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the Court's July 1, 2019 Minute Order is VACATED to the extent that it requires the parties to file a joint status report on or before September 23, 2019. It is further ORDERED that, on or before October 25, 2019, the parties shall file an additional joint status report discussing how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on September 18, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 09/18/2019)
2019-09-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/25/2019 (hs) (Entered: 09/19/2019)
2019-10-1811Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Production by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bickford, James) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-10-21MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 11 Consent Motion for Extension of Production Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall make a final production to the plaintiff on or before November 8, 2019. It is further ORDERED that the Court's September 18, 2019 Minute Order is VACATED to the extent that it requires the parties to file a joint status report on or before October 25, 2019. It is further ORDERED that, on or before November 8, 2019, the parties shall file an additional joint status report discussing how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 21, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/8/2019 (hs) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-11-0812Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 11/08/2019)
2019-11-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before November 22, 2019, the parties shall file an additional joint status report proposing a schedule governing further proceedings in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 13, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
2019-11-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/22/2019 (hs) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
2019-11-2213Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 11/22/2019)
2019-11-27MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before February 21, 2020, the parties shall file an additional joint status report proposing a schedule governing further proceedings in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 27, 2019. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 11/27/2019)
2019-12-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/21/2020 (hs) (Entered: 12/02/2019)
2020-02-2114Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 02/21/2020)
2020-02-2515ORDER. In accordance with the attached Order, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before April 7, 2020. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its combined opposition to the defendant's motion for summary judgment and cross-motion for summary judgment on or before April 28, 2020. It is further ORDERED that the defendant shall file its combined opposition to the plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment and reply in support of its motion for summary judgment on or before May 19, 2020. It is further ORDERED that the plaintiff shall file its reply in support of its cross-motion for summary judgment on or before May 29, 2020. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall appear before the Court for a status conference on September 1, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., which will serve as a target date for the resolution of the parties' summary judgment motions. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 25, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-25Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 9/1/2020 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 16 before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (ztl) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before April 7, 2020. Plaintiff shall file its combined opposition to the defendants motion for summary judgment and cross-motion for summary judgment on or before April 28, 2020. Defendant shall file its combined opposition to the plaintiffs cross-motion for summary judgment and reply in support of its motion for summary judgment on or before May 19, 2020. Plaintiff shall file its reply in support of its cross-motion for summary judgment on or before May 29, 2020 (ztl) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-04-0716Consent MOTION to Stay Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bickford, James) (Entered: 04/07/2020)
2020-04-09MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the defendant's 16 Consent Motion to Stay Briefing Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the briefing schedule for the forthcoming cross-motions for summary judgment is VACATED pending further Order of the Court. It is further ORDERED that the status conference currently scheduled for September 1, 2020, is VACATED pending further Order of the Court. It is further ORDERED that, on or before May 8, 2020, the parties shall file a joint status report proposing a schedule governing further proceedings in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on April 9, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 04/09/2020)
2020-04-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/8/2020 (hs) (Entered: 04/09/2020)
2020-05-0817Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 05/08/2020)
2020-05-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before June 12, 2020, the parties shall file an additional joint status report proposing a schedule governing further proceedings in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on May 11, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 05/11/2020)
2020-05-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/12/2020 (hs) (Entered: 05/12/2020)
2020-06-1218Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 06/12/2020)
2020-06-1519ORDER. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on June 15, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 06/15/2020)
2020-06-16Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 5/21/2021 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 16 before Judge Reggie B. Walton. (hs) (Entered: 06/16/2020)
2020-06-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Summary Judgment motion due by 9/4/2020. Plaintiff's Response to Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion due by 10/9/2020. (hs) (Entered: 06/16/2020)
2020-08-0720Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Produce Draft Vaughn Index by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bickford, James) (Entered: 08/07/2020)
2020-08-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of 20 the defendant's Consent Motion for Extension of Time, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that on or before August 14, 2020, the plaintiff shall notify the defendant of its objections to the defendants search for responsive documents and withholdings detailed in the draft Vaughn index previously provided to the plaintiff, and the defendant shall provide to the plaintiff an updated draft Vaughn index detailing any additional withholdings not included in the first Vaughn index. It is further ORDERED that, on or before August 28, 2020, the plaintiff shall notify the defendant of its objections to the second Vaughn index. It is further ORDERED that, on or before September 11, 2020, the defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment. It is further ORDERED that, on or before October 16, 2020, the plaintiff shall file its combined opposition to the defendant's motion for summary judgment and cross-motion for summary judgment. It is further ORDERED that, on or before November 6, 2020, the defendant shall file its combined opposition to the plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment and reply in support of its motion for summary judgment. It is further ORDERED that, on or before November 27, 2020, the plaintiff shall file its reply in support of its cross-motion for summary judgment. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 7, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 08/07/2020)
2020-08-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motions due by 9/11/2020. Cross Motions due by 10/16/2020. Response to Cross Motions due by 11/6/2020. Reply to Cross Motions due by 11/27/2020. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 10/16/2020. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/6/2020. (hs) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-09-1121Joint MOTION to Vacate Briefing Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bickford, James) (Entered: 09/11/2020)
2020-09-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Motion to Vacate Briefing Schedule, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the summary judgment briefing schedule is VACATED. It is further ORDERED that, on or before October 16, 2020, the parties shall file a joint status report advising the Court on the progress of their discussions if they have not stipulated to the dismissal of the case by then. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on September 16, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 09/16/2020)
2020-09-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/16/2020 (hs) (Entered: 09/17/2020)
2020-10-1622Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 10/16/2020)
2020-10-20MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before October 30, 2020, the parties shall file a joint status report informing the Court of the status of their efforts to reach an amicable resolution of the issues remaining in this case, if they have not stipulated to the dismissal of the case by then. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 20, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 10/20/2020)
2020-10-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/30/2020 (hs) (Entered: 10/20/2020)
2020-10-3023Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 10/30/2020)
2020-11-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before November 20, 2020, the parties shall file a joint status report informing the Court of the status of their efforts to reach an amicable resolution of the issues remaining in this case, if they have not stipulated to the dismissal of the case by then. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 3, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2020-11-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/20/2020 (hs) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2020-11-2024Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bickford, James) (Entered: 11/20/2020)
2020-11-27MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before December 18, 2020, the parties shall file a joint status report informing the Court of the status of their efforts to reach an amicable resolution of the issues remaining in this case, if they have not stipulated to the dismissal of the case by then. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 27, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 11/27/2020)
2020-11-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/18/2020 (hs) (Entered: 11/30/2020)
2020-12-1825STIPULATION of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Peterson, James) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2020-12-23MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 25 Stipulation of Dismissal, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. It is further ORDERED that this case is CLOSED. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on December 23, 2020. (lcrbw2) (Entered: 12/23/2020)
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