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Case TitlePUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE UNITED STATES v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv00984
Date Filed2019-04-09
Date Closed2019-10-24
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffPUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Case DescriptionPublic Advocates for the United States submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice and the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys for records concerning a memo issued by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions requiring designation of a religious liberty point of contact in each U.S. Attorney's Office. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from EOUSA, Public Advocates filed an administrative appeal to the Office of Information Policy. OIP acknowledged receipt of the appeal but ultimately told Public Advocates that it was closing the appeal because EOUSA had not yet taken any adverse action. Public Advocates then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-04-091COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6048790) filed by PUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE UNITED STATES. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons to AG, # 4 Summons to Justice Department, # 5 Summons to U.S. Attorney)(Olson, Robert) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-092LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by PUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE UNITED STATES (Olson, Robert) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
2019-04-10Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zef, ) (Entered: 04/10/2019)
2019-04-103SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 04/10/2019)
2019-04-234ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 4/23/2019. (DM) (Entered: 04/23/2019)
2019-04-305NOTICE of Appearance by William Mark Nebeker on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 04/30/2019)
2019-05-166ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Nebeker, William) (Entered: 05/16/2019)
2019-05-177ORDER. The parties shall file the schedule not later than JUNE 17, 2019 . Plaintiff shall file proof of service by no later than MAY 24, 2019 . See Order for further details. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on May 17, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 05/17/2019)
2019-05-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint scheduled due by 6/17/2019. Plaintiff's proof of service due by 5/24/2019. (dot) (Entered: 05/20/2019)
2019-05-228RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/16/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/16/2019. (Olson, Robert) (Entered: 05/22/2019)
2019-05-229RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE and U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL served on 4/16/2019 (ztd); (See docket entry no. 8 to view.) Modified on 5/29/2019 (ztd). (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-06-1210Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 06/12/2019)
2019-06-14MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant's ongoing searches have generated one record thus far. The Court adopts Defendant's proposal that the parties submit a further Joint Status Report by JULY 29, 2019 , indicating whether Defendant has produced this record and identifying its anticipated schedule for any further processing and production. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on June 14, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 06/14/2019)
2019-06-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/29/2019, indicating whether Defendant has produced this record and identifying its anticipated schedule for any further processing and production. (dot) (Entered: 06/14/2019)
2019-07-2911Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 07/29/2019)
2019-07-30MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant has produced the single record referred to in the parties' 10 Joint Status Report and continues to gather responses from United States Attorneys' Offices in order to facilitate "the final productions." Accordingly, the Court adopts the parties' proposal that they submit a further Joint Status Report on or before SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 , identifying the status of Defendant's productions and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 30, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 07/30/2019)
2019-07-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/5/2019, identifying the status of Defendant's productions and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. (dot) (Entered: 07/31/2019)
2019-09-0512Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 09/05/2019)
2019-09-09MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant has completed its production without any withholdings. Accordingly, the Court adopts the parties' proposal that they submit a further joint status report on or before OCTOBER 7, 2019, identifying whether any further action is necessary, unless the case has been dismissed prior to that date. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on September 9, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 09/09/2019)
2019-09-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/7/2019, identifying whether any further action is necessary, unless the case has been dismissed prior to that date. (dot) (Entered: 09/12/2019)
2019-10-0713Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Nebeker, William) (Entered: 10/07/2019)
2019-10-09MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, which indicates that the parties agree that there are no further remaining substantive issues in the case. It further indicates that the parties are attempting to reach an agreement as to Plaintiff's claim for attorney's fees and costs. Accordingly, the Court adopts the parties' proposal that they submit a further joint status report on or before OCTOBER 29, 2019 , unless the case has been dismissed prior to that date. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on October 9, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 10/09/2019)
2019-10-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/29/2019. (kt) (Entered: 10/09/2019)
2019-10-2314STIPULATION of Settlement and Dismissal by PUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE UNITED STATES. (Olson, Robert) (Entered: 10/23/2019)
2019-10-2415ORDER. Plaintiff dismisses this action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED with prejudice. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on October 24, 2019. (lccck1) (Entered: 10/24/2019)
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