Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv01578
Date Filed2019-05-29
Date Closed2021-03-05
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Health and Human Services for records concerning calendars and calendar entries for Shannon Royce, director of the HHS Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives. After hearing nothing further from the agency, AO 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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-05-291COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6151949) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons as to USAO, # 4 Summons as to AG, # 5 Summons as to HHS)(Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 05/29/2019)
2019-05-292LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 05/29/2019)
2019-06-04Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (zef, ) (Entered: 06/04/2019)
2019-06-043SUMMONS (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: 06/04/2019)
2019-06-044STANDING 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 6/4/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 06/04/2019)
2019-06-125RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/4/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/4/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 06/10/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES served on 6/11/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 06/12/2019)
2019-07-036NOTICE of Appearance by Darrell C. Valdez on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 07/03/2019)
2019-07-037Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 07/03/2019)
2019-07-08MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Defendant's 7 Consent Motion, it is hereby ORDERED that the Defendant shall file an Answer or responsive pleading on or before August 5, 2019. Further requests for an extension of time shall be disfavored. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/8/2019, nunc pro tunc to 7/5/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 07/08/2019)
2019-07-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer to the Complaint due by 8/5/2019. (tg) (Entered: 07/08/2019)
2019-07-128NOTICE of Appearance by Christine H. Monahan on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-08-09DISCHARGED PURSUANT TO MINUTE ORDER ENTERED ON 8/19/2019.....MINUTE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: In its July 8, 2019 Minute Order, the Court granted the Defendant's 7 Motion for Extension, and ORDERED the Defendant to file an Answer or responsive pleading on or before August 5, 2019. The Court warned the Defendant, "Further requests for an extension shall be disfavored." Despite this warning, the Defendant has missed its deadline to file. Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant shall file a brief on or before August 15, 2019 to show cause why sanctions should not be imposed. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall appear before the Court on Thursday, August 22 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 2. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/9/2019. (lctnm3) Modified on 8/20/2019 (hmc). (Entered: 08/09/2019)
2019-08-09Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Response to Show Cause due by 8/15/2019; Show Cause Hearing scheduled for 8/22/2019, at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 2 before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (tg) (Entered: 08/09/2019)
2019-08-14Set/Reset Hearings: Show Cause Hearing rescheduled for 8/28/2019 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 2 before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (hmc) (Entered: 08/14/2019)
2019-08-149RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE re MINUTE Order to Show Cause, filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Valdez, Darrell); Modified event and text on 8/19/2019 (tth). (Entered: 08/14/2019)
2019-08-1410Consent MOTION for Leave to File Answer by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proposed Answer, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 08/14/2019)
2019-08-1511NOTICE of Appearance by Katherine Marie Anthony on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Anthony, Katherine) (Entered: 08/15/2019)
2019-08-19MINUTE ORDER granting the Defendant's 10 Consent Motion for Leave to File. The Clerk of Court is directed to file [10-1], the Defendant's Answer. The Court's Show Cause Order of August 9, 2019 is hereby discharged and the Show Cause Hearing scheduled for August 28, 2019 is vacated. The Defendant is cautioned to meet all Court-established deadlines going forward. It is further 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 Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by 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 September 9, 2019. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 8/19/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 08/19/2019)
2019-08-1912ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (tth) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
2019-08-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/9/2019. (hmc) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
2019-09-0913Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 09/09/2019)
2019-09-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further Joint Status Report on or before September 30, 2019. The report shall include the status of the Defendant's search efforts and a proposed schedule for further productions, if necessary. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/10/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/30/2019. (hmc) (Entered: 09/10/2019)
2019-09-3014Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 09/30/2019)
2019-10-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further Joint Status Report by October 31, 2019. The report shall include a production schedule for all identified records, and a schedule for locating and processing additional responsive records. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/1/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 10/01/2019)
2019-10-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/31/2019. (hmc) (Entered: 10/01/2019)
2019-10-3115Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-11-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report every 60 days advising the Court on the progress of the Defendant's productions to Plaintiff. The next Joint Status Report shall be due on or before December 31, 2019. The parties shall continue to file Joint Status Reports every 60 days thereafter until otherwise ordered by the Court. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/1/2019. (lctnm3) (Entered: 11/01/2019)
2019-11-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/31/2019, and every 60 days thereafter. (hmc) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2019-12-2716Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 12/27/2019)
2020-02-2817Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 02/28/2020)
2020-04-2818Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 04/28/2020)
2020-06-2919Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 06/29/2020)
2020-08-2720Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-10-2721Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 10/27/2020)
2020-12-2322Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 12/23/2020)
2021-02-2323Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 02/23/2021)
2021-03-0424STIPULATION of Dismissal Without Prejudice by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
2021-03-04MINUTE ORDER. Pursuant to the parties' 24 Stipulation of Dismissal without Prejudice, this case is hereby DISMISSED without prejudice. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 3/4/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar