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Case TitleHUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv01557
Date Filed2019-05-28
Date Closed2022-08-29
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffHUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER
Case DescriptionThe Human Rights Defense Center submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Marshals Service for records concerning all claims filed against the agency for amounts of $1,000 or more. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and asked HRDC to narrow the scope of its request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, HRDC filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DefendantU.S. MARSHALS SERVICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-05-281COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6148144) filed by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Ban, Victor) (Entered: 05/28/2019)
2019-06-03Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (zef, ) (Entered: 06/03/2019)
2019-06-032SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zef, ) (Entered: 06/03/2019)
2019-06-033STANDING ORDER establishing procedures for cases before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The parties are directed to read and strictly comply with the attached Order. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 6/3/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 06/03/2019)
2019-06-054RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/3/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/3/2019. (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/05/2019)
2019-06-055RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 06/03/2019. (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/05/2019)
2019-06-056RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 6/3/2019 (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/05/2019)
2019-06-057REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE for U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE filed by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/05/2019)
2019-06-068SUMMONS (1) Re-Issued Electronically as to U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent) (tth) Modified text on 6/12/2019 (znmw). (Entered: 06/06/2019)
2019-06-069RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE served on 6/6/2019 (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 06/06/2019)
2019-06-2410NOTICE of Appearance by Damon William Taaffe on behalf of All Defendants (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-07-0111ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE.(Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 07/01/2019)
2019-07-02MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court are a complaint and an answer in this FOIA case. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule should address, among other things, the status of the Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to the Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by the Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, and a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if required. The parties shall file the schedule on or before August 2, 2019. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/2/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 07/02/2019)
2019-07-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/2/2019. (hmc) (Entered: 07/02/2019)
2019-08-0212Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 08/02/2019)
2019-08-02MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that they shall file another Joint Status Report by September 6, 2019, describing the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request and proposing a schedule for further proceedings. The schedule should address the anticipated number of documents responsive to the Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by the Plaintiff, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, and a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if required. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/2/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 08/02/2019)
2019-08-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/6/2019. (hmc) (Entered: 08/02/2019)
2019-09-0613Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ban, Victor) (Entered: 09/06/2019)
2019-09-06MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another Joint Status Report on or before November 6, 2019. The report will address the status of the parties' negotiations regarding the processing rate and production schedule going forward. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/6/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 09/06/2019)
2019-09-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/6/2019. (hmc) (Entered: 09/09/2019)
2019-09-1114NOTICE of Appearance by Blake Berkeley Hulnick on behalf of HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER (Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 09/11/2019)
2019-10-1415NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. Attorney Victor Duen-Li Ban terminated. (Ban, Victor) (Entered: 10/14/2019)
2019-11-0616Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 11/06/2019)
2019-11-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report every 90 days advising the Court on the progress of the Defendants' productions to Plaintiff. The next Joint Status Report shall be due on or before February 4, 2020. The parties shall continue to file Joint Status Reports every 90 days thereafter until otherwise ordered by the Court. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/7/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 11/07/2019)
2019-11-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/4/2020, and every 90 days thereafter. (tg) (Entered: 11/07/2019)
2020-01-2317NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Robert Aaron Caplen on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE Substituting for attorney Damon W. Taaffe (Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 01/23/2020)
2020-02-0418Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 02/04/2020)
2020-05-0419Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 05/04/2020)
2020-08-0320Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-08-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another Joint Status Report on or before November 2, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/10/2020. (lctnm3) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-08-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/2/2020. (hmc) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-11-0221Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2021-01-2922Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 01/29/2021)
2021-04-2923Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-04-29MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another Joint Status Report by May 14, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 4/29/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-04-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/14/2021. (hmc) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-05-0424NOTICE of Appearance by Tyler Paige Carroll on behalf of HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER (Carroll, Tyler) (Entered: 05/04/2021)
2021-05-1225Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 05/12/2021)
2021-05-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another Joint Status Report by June 11, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 5/12/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 05/12/2021)
2021-05-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/11/2021. (hmc) (Entered: 05/12/2021)
2021-06-1026Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 06/10/2021)
2021-06-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by July 9, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 6/10/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 06/10/2021)
2021-06-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/9/2021. (ztg) (Entered: 06/10/2021)
2021-07-0127Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Caplen, Robert) (Entered: 07/01/2021)
2021-07-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 27 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by August 13, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/1/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 07/01/2021)
2021-07-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/13/2021. (zhmc) (Entered: 07/01/2021)
2021-08-1328Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Carroll, Tyler) (Entered: 08/13/2021)
2021-08-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 28 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by Nov. 11, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/16/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 08/16/2021)
2021-08-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/11/2021. (hmc) (Entered: 08/16/2021)
2021-11-1129Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Carroll, Tyler) (Entered: 11/11/2021)
2021-11-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the Parties' 29 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties file another Joint Status Report on or before February 14, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/12/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/14/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-2330NOTICE of Appearance by Thomas Duffey on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 11/23/2021)
2022-02-1431Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 02/14/2022)
2022-02-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 31 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties file another Joint Status Report on or before May 10, 2022. The parties are also ORDERED to appear for a telephonic status conference on May 13, 2022, at 2 p.m. The parties will be emailed dial-in information. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 2/14/2022. (lctnm3) (Entered: 02/14/2022)
2022-02-15Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 5/10/2022. Telephonic Status Conference set for 5/13/2022 at 2:00 PM before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (hmc) (Entered: 02/15/2022)
2022-05-1032Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 05/10/2022)
2022-05-13Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Trevor N. McFadden: Telephonic Status Conference held on 5/13/2022. Joint status report indicating that the case is resolved or joint proposed scheduling order for summary judgment briefing due by 7/13/2022. (Court Reporter: Lisa Edwards.) (hmc) (Entered: 05/13/2022)
2022-05-2733NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. Attorney Tyler Paige Carroll terminated. (Carroll, Tyler) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
2022-07-1334Joint STATUS REPORT by HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hulnick, Blake) (Entered: 07/13/2022)
2022-07-14MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Parties' 34 Joint Status Report, the Court ORDERS Plaintiff to file its Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs by August 29, 2022. Defendants shall file their opposition by September 28, 2022. Plaintiff's reply, if any, shall be filed by October 13, 2022. Defendants' reply, if any, shall be filed by October 28, 2022. The parties shall promptly notify the Court if they reach agreement on the issue of fees and costs. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/14/2022. (lctnm3) (Entered: 07/14/2022)
2022-07-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs due by 8/29/2022. Opposition due by 9/28/2022. Replies due by 10/13/2022 and 10/28/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 07/14/2022)
2022-08-2935STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 08/29/2022)
2022-08-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the 35 Stipulation of Dismissal, this case is hereby DISMISSED with prejudice. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The Clerk of Court shall close this case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/29/2022. (lctnm3) (Entered: 08/29/2022)
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