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Case TitleDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03323
Date Filed2019-11-05
Date Closed2021-05-10
JudgeJudge Emmet G. Sullivan
PlaintiffDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionDemocracy Forward Foundation submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Housing and Urban, Development, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness for records concerning inter-agency communications and communications with third parties pertaining to the modification, postponement, or cancellation of the FY 2019 Specialized Housing and Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Notice of Funding Availability. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests. HUD told DFF that it needed to identify which individuals to search. DFF told the agency that was not required under FOIA. After hearing nothing further from any of the agencies, 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 HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DefendantU.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-11-051COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6506223) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons)(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 11/05/2019)
2019-11-052LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 11/05/2019)
2019-11-05Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (zrdj) (Entered: 11/05/2019)
2019-11-053SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrdj) (Entered: 11/05/2019)
2019-11-124STANDING ORDER: The parties are directed to read the attached Standing Order Governing Civil Cases Before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in its entirety upon receipt. The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives in the attached Standing Order. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 11/12/19. (Attachment: Exhibit 1) (mac) (Entered: 11/12/2019)
2019-11-195RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 11/12/2019., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT served on 11/12/2019; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 11/12/2019; U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS served on 11/12/2019, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/12/2019. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/12/2019.) (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 11/19/2019)
2019-12-116MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 12/11/2019)
2019-12-117NOTICE of Appearance by Scott Leeson Sroka on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 12/11/2019)
2019-12-128RESPONSE re 6 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 12/12/2019)
2020-01-08MINUTE ORDER granting over objection 6 motion for extension of time to respond to complaint. Upon consideration of the motion, and for good cause shown, defendants shall file a response to plaintiff's complaint by no later than January 13, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 1/8/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
2020-01-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendants Response To Plaintiff's Complaint due by 1/13/2020. (mac) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
2020-01-139ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS.(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 01/13/2020)
2020-01-14MINUTE ORDER. Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552. The parties are directed to meet and confer and propose a joint scheduling order for further proceedings in this case by no later than February 13, 2020. The parties' joint proposed scheduling order shall address the following: (1) The status of plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) The anticipated number of documents responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) The anticipated date(s) for release of documents responsive to plaintiffs FOIA request; (4) Whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case; (5) Whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case; (6) Whether this case would benefit from referral to a magistrate judge or the District Court Mediation Program for purposes of settlement; and (7) A proposed briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if applicable. If the parties are unable to agree on a joint recommendation, the joint proposed scheduling order shall include each party's individual recommendations. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 01/14/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 01/14/2020)
2020-01-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Scheduling Order due by 2/13/2020. (mac) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-02-1310Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 02/13/2020)
2020-02-13MINUTE ORDER. In light of 10 Parties Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another Joint Status Report by no later than March 13, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 2/13/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 02/13/2020)
2020-02-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/13/2020. (mac) (Entered: 02/14/2020)
2020-02-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff Proof Of Service With The Court Or File A Status Report due by 3/13/2020. (mac) (Entered: 02/14/2020)
2020-03-1311NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Darrell C. Valdez on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS Substituting for attorney Scott Leeson Sroka (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-03-1312Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-03-13MINUTE ORDER. In view of 12 Joint STATUS REPORT, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than April 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 3/13/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-03-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Further Joint Status Report due by 4/6/2020. (mac) (Entered: 03/16/2020)
2020-04-0613Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 04/06/2020)
2020-04-07MINUTE ORDER. In view of 13 Joint STATUS REPORT, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than June 8, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 4/7/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 04/07/2020)
2020-04-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Further Joint Status Report due by 6/8/2020 (mac) (Entered: 04/08/2020)
2020-06-0814Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 06/08/2020)
2020-06-08MINUTE ORDER. In view of 14 Joint STATUS REPORT, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than August 4, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 6/8/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 06/08/2020)
2020-06-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/4/2020. (mac) (Entered: 06/09/2020)
2020-08-0415Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-08-04MINUTE ORDER. In light of 15 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than October 6, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 8/4/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-08-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/6/2020 (mac) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-10-0616Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-10-06MINUTE ORDER. In light of 16 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than December 7, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 10/6/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-10-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/7/2020. (mac) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-12-0717Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2020-12-07MINUTE ORDER. In light of 17 the parties' joint status report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than February 8, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 12/7/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2020-12-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/8/2021 (mac) (Entered: 12/08/2020)
2021-02-0818Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. (Valdez, Darrell) (Entered: 02/08/2021)
2021-02-08MINUTE ORDER. In view of 18 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by April 8, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 2/8/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 02/08/2021)
2021-02-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/8/2021. (mac) (Entered: 02/09/2021)
2021-04-0719Joint STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 04/07/2021)
2021-04-08MINUTE ORDER. In view of 19 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than May 10, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 4/8/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 04/08/2021)
2021-04-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/10/2021 (mac) (Entered: 04/09/2021)
2021-05-1020STIPULATION of Dismissal by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 05/10/2021)
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