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Case TitleSUNLIGHT FOUNDATION et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv00659
Date Filed2019-03-08
Date Closed2020-07-31
JudgeJudge Emmet G. Sullivan
PlaintiffSUNLIGHT FOUNDATION
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionThe Sunlight Foundation and American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Health and Human Services for records concerning communications to or from the law firm Hager Sharp. The Sunlight Foundation and American Oversight also submitted two FOIA requests to the agency for records concerning communications sent to or received by officials of the Office of Women's Health, listing names and keywords. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the Sunlight Foundation and American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, 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
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-03-081COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5990284) filed by THE SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons)(Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-082LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by THE SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-083LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-08Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (zef, ) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-084SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-145STANDING ORDER: The parties are directed to read the attached Standing Order Governing Civil Cases Before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in its entirety upon receipt. The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives in the attached Standing Order Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 03/14/19. (Attachment: # Exhibit 1) (mac) (Entered: 03/14/2019)
2019-03-156RETURN 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 03/12/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES served on 3/11/2019 (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
2019-03-197NOTICE of Appearance by Rhonda Lisa Campbell on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Campbell, Rhonda) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
2019-04-088ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.(Campbell, Rhonda) (Entered: 04/08/2019)
2019-05-089MEET AND CONFER STATEMENT. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 05/08/2019)
2019-06-0710Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 06/07/2019)
2019-06-2111Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Campbell, Rhonda) (Entered: 06/21/2019)
2019-06-25MINUTE ORDER. In light of 11 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than August 5, 2019. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 6/25/2019. (lcegs2) (Entered: 06/25/2019)
2019-06-25MINUTE ORDER. Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552. The parties are directed to meet and confer and propose a joint scheduling order for further proceedings in this case by no later than August 5, 2019. The parties joint proposed scheduling order shall address the following: (1) The status of plaintiffs FOIA request; (2) The anticipated number of documents responsive to plaintiffs FOIA request; (3) The anticipated date(s) for release of documents responsive to plaintiffs FOIA request; (4) Whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case; (5) Whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case; (6) Whether this case would benefit from referral to a magistrate judge or the District Court Mediation Program for purposes of settlement; and (7) A proposed briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if applicable. If the parties are unable to agree on a joint recommendation, the joint proposed scheduling order shall include each partys individual recommendations. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 6/25/2019. (lcegs2) (Entered: 06/25/2019)
2019-06-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/5/2019. (mac) (Entered: 06/25/2019)
2019-08-0512Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 08/05/2019)
2019-08-3013STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 08/30/2019)
2019-08-3014STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Campbell, Rhonda) (Entered: 08/30/2019)
2019-09-03MINUTE ORDER. In light of 13 and 14 the parties' joint status reports, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than November 1, 2019. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 9/3/2019. (lcegs2) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
2019-09-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Further Joint Status Report due by 11/1/2019. (mac) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
2019-11-0115Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-01MINUTE ORDER. In view of 15 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than February 20, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 11/1/2019. (lcegs2) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Further Joint Status Report due by 2/20/2020. (mac) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2020-02-2016Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Campbell, Rhonda) (Entered: 02/20/2020)
2020-02-21MINUTE ORDER. In view of 16 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than May 1, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 2/21/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 02/21/2020)
2020-02-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Further Joint Status Report due by 5/1/2020. (mac) (Entered: 02/24/2020)
2020-04-2117NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Brian J. Field on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Rhonda Campbell (Field, Brian) (Entered: 04/21/2020)
2020-05-0118Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 05/01/2020)
2020-05-04MINUTE ORDER. In view of 18 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than July 1, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 5/4/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 05/04/2020)
2020-05-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/1/2020 (mac) (Entered: 05/05/2020)
2020-07-0119Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Field, Brian) (Entered: 07/01/2020)
2020-07-28MINUTE ORDER. In view of 19 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than August 3, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 7/28/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
2020-07-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/3/2020. (mac) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
2020-07-3120STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
2020-07-31MINUTE ORDER. In view of 40 STIPULATION of Dismissal, this action is dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 7/31/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 07/31/2020)
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