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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03259
Date Filed2019-10-30
Date Closed2021-01-11
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted five FOIA requests to the Department of Agriculture for records concerning communications and meetings related to Secretary Sonny Perdue, as well as issues related to ethics and conflicts of interest. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
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

2019-10-301COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6489690) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons as to USAO, # 3 Summons as to AG, # 4 Summons as to USDA)(Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 10/30/2019)
2019-10-302LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 10/30/2019)
2019-10-31Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (adh, ) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-10-313SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 10/31/2019)
2019-11-194NOTICE of Appearance by Diana Viggiano Valdivia on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 11/19/2019)
2019-11-215Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer or Otherwise Respond to the Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 11/21/2019)
2019-11-226RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/1/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/1/2019.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 11/10/19., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE served on 11/8/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Of Mariuxi A. Pintado)(Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 11/22/2019)
2019-11-27MINUTE ORDER: Granting 5 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint by December 16, 2019. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 11/27/19. (DJS) (Entered: 11/27/2019)
2019-11-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint by 12/16/2019. (jth) (Entered: 12/01/2019)
2019-12-167ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.(Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 12/16/2019)
2019-12-16MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address 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, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues no later than 1/31/20. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/16/19. (DJS) (Entered: 12/16/2019)
2019-12-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/31/2020. (tb) (Entered: 12/17/2019)
2020-01-308Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 01/30/2020)
2020-01-31MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 8 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint status report by on March 30, 2020, and every 60 da thereafter. To the extent the report contains proposed production or briefing deadlines, the report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 1/31/2020. (DJS) (Entered: 01/31/2020)
2020-02-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/30/2020. (tb) (Entered: 02/04/2020)
2020-03-309Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 03/30/2020)
2020-05-2910Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-07-2811Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
2020-09-2812Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-11-3013Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 11/30/2020)
2021-01-0714Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 01/07/2021)
2021-01-1115STIPULATION of Dismissal Without Prejudice by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Monahan, Christine) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
2021-01-11MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' Joint Stipulation of Dismissal 15 , it is hereby ordered that this action is dismissed without prejudice. Each party to bear its own costs.. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 1/11/21. (DJS) (Entered: 01/11/2021)
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