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Case TitleDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv01199
Date Filed2019-04-25
Date Closed2021-12-15
JudgeJudge Dabney L. Friedrich
PlaintiffDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionDemocracy Forward Foundation submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration for records concerning communications between specified agency officials and individuals representing Airlines for America. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests. However, after hearing nothing further from either agency, DFF filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DefendantFEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
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

2019-04-251COMPLAINT against FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6080742) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons)(Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-04-25Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (zef, ) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-04-252SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 04/25/2019)
2019-05-023LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 05/02/2019)
2019-05-024RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/1/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/31/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/1/19., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION served on 5/1/2019; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION served on 4/30/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 05/02/2019)
2019-05-065NOTICE of Appearance by Johnny Hillary Walker, III on behalf of All Defendants (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 05/06/2019)
2019-05-316ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-05-31MINUTE ORDER directing the parties to MEET AND CONFER and file a joint status report proposing a schedule for further proceedings on or before June 21, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 31, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-06-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/21/2019. (kh) (Entered: 06/03/2019)
2019-06-217Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 06/21/2019)
2019-06-24MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 7 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before August 5, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on June 24, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-06-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/5/2019. (zcal) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-08-058Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 08/05/2019)
2019-08-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before September 16, 2019. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 7, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 08/07/2019)
2019-09-139Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-09-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before October 28, 2019. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on September 17, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 09/17/2019)
2019-09-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/28/2019. (znbn) (Entered: 09/19/2019)
2019-10-2810Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 10/28/2019)
2019-10-31MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before December 20, 2019. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 31, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-12-2011Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2019-12-20MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before February 18, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 20, 2019. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2020-02-1812Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 02/18/2020)
2020-02-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before April 14, 2020 discussing, inter alia, recommendations for further proceedings. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 18, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 02/18/2020)
2020-02-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Further Joint Status Report due by 4/14/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 02/18/2020)
2020-04-1413Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 04/14/2020)
2020-04-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/15/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 04/15/2020)
2020-04-15MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before June 15, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on April 14, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 04/15/2020)
2020-06-1514Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 06/15/2020)
2020-06-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before August 14, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on June 16, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 06/16/2020)
2020-06-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 8/14/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 06/16/2020)
2020-08-1215NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kathleene A. Molen on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Johnny Walker (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 08/12/2020)
2020-08-1416Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 08/14/2020)
2020-08-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before October 14, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 17, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 08/17/2020)
2020-08-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 10/14/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 08/17/2020)
2020-10-1417Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 10/14/2020)
2020-10-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before December 14, 2020. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 14, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 10/14/2020)
2020-10-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/14/2020 (zjch) (Entered: 10/15/2020)
2020-12-1418Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 12/14/2020)
2020-12-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before February 15, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 14, 2020. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 12/14/2020)
2020-12-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 2/15/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 12/15/2020)
2021-02-1519Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 02/15/2021)
2021-02-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before April 16, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on February 16, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 02/16/2021)
2021-02-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 4/16/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 02/17/2021)
2021-04-1620Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 04/16/2021)
2021-04-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before June 16, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on April 19, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 04/19/2021)
2021-04-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 6/16/2021 (zjch) (Entered: 04/19/2021)
2021-06-1621Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 06/16/2021)
2021-06-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before August 16, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on June 16, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 06/16/2021)
2021-08-1622Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 08/16/2021)
2021-08-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before October 15, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on August 17, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 08/17/2021)
2021-10-1423Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. (Molen, Kathleene) (Entered: 10/14/2021)
2021-10-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before December 14, 2021. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on October 14, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 10/14/2021)
2021-11-0224NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Douglas C. Dreier on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Kathleene Molen (Dreier, Douglas) (Entered: 11/02/2021)
2021-12-1425STIPULATION of Dismissal by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Jones, Karianne) (Entered: 12/14/2021)
2021-12-15MINUTE ORDER dismissing this case without prejudice in light of the parties' 25 Stipulation of Dismissal. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a). The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 15, 2021. (lcdlf2) (Entered: 12/15/2021)
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