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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv00690
Date Filed2019-03-12
Date Closed2020-03-13
JudgeJudge Randolph D. Moss
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted five FOIA requests to the Department of the Interior for records concerning acting Secretary David Bernhardt, including his contacts with former clients, travel and security costs, and ethics compliance. AO also requested expedited processing after President Trump announced that he would nominate Bernhardt to replace former Secretary Ryan Zinke. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, AO filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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

2019-03-121COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5995610) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USAO, # 3 Summons US Attorney General, # 4 Summons Dept of the Interior)(Wood, Hart) (Entered: 03/12/2019)
2019-03-12Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (zef, ) (Entered: 03/12/2019)
2019-03-122SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 03/12/2019)
2019-03-133STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/13/2019. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 03/13/2019)
2019-04-104RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/12/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/11/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/18/19., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 3/18/2019 (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 04/10/2019)
2019-04-115ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Nebeker, William) (Entered: 04/11/2019)
2019-04-12MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to appear for an Initial Scheduling Conference on May 14, 2019, at 10:45 a.m. in Courtroom 21. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall confer in advance of the Initial Scheduling Conference on (1) whether any records can be released, and (2) the proper next steps in this litigation. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/12/2019. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 04/12/2019)
2019-04-12Set/Reset Hearings: Initial Scheduling Conference set for 5/14/2019 at 10:45 AM in Courtroom 21 before Judge Randolph D. Moss. (dot) Modified on 4/15/2019 to correct hearing type (kt). (Entered: 04/12/2019)
2019-05-14Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Randolph D. Moss: Initial Scheduling Conference held on 5/14/2019. Joint Status Report due by 6/19/2019. (Court Reporter: Jeff Hook.) (kt) (Entered: 05/14/2019)
2019-06-196Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 06/19/2019)
2019-06-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report 6 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties submit a further joint status report on or before July 30, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/20/2019. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 06/20/2019)
2019-06-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/30/2019. (kt) (Entered: 06/20/2019)
2019-07-307Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 07/30/2019)
2019-07-31MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 7 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before September 9, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/31/2019. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 07/31/2019)
2019-07-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/9/2019. (kt) (Entered: 07/31/2019)
2019-09-098Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 09/09/2019)
2019-09-12MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 8 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before September 30, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 09/12/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 09/12/2019)
2019-09-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/30/2019. (kt) (Entered: 09/12/2019)
2019-09-309Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 09/30/2019)
2019-10-02MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 9 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before November 7, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/2/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 10/02/2019)
2019-10-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/7/2019. (kt) (Entered: 10/02/2019)
2019-11-0710Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 11/07/2019)
2019-11-12MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 10 , the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report on or before January 8, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 11/12/19. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 11/12/2019)
2020-01-0811Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
2020-01-10MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report 11 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before March 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/10/20. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 01/10/2020)
2020-03-0512NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Robert Aaron Caplen on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Substituting for attorney W. Mark Nebeker (Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 03/05/2020)
2020-03-0613STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Wood, Hart) (Entered: 03/06/2020)
2020-03-12MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' stipulation of dismissal 13 , it is hereby ORDERED that the case is DISMISSED with prejudice. Each party shall bear its own costs. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the case. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/12/20. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 03/12/2020)
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