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Case TitleCHEN v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv03652
Date Filed2019-12-06
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Ana C. Reyes
PlaintiffRAM CHEN
Case DescriptionRam Chen submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Health and Human Services for records concerning how Bio Medical Advanced Research and Development Authority funded buildings in College Station and Byran, Texas to address the country's preparedness for medical emergencies. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. Chen contacted the agency a number of times to check on the status of his request. However, after hearing nothing further from the agency, Chen filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 202021
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-12-061COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6627463) filed by RAM CHEN. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Stotter, Daniel) (Entered: 12/06/2019)
2019-12-09Case Assigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. (zrdj) (Entered: 12/09/2019)
2019-12-092SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrdj) (Entered: 12/09/2019)
2019-12-263NOTICE of Appearance by Kenneth A. Adebonojo on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 12/26/2019)
2019-12-264NOTICE of Appearance by Sean Terrell Malone on behalf of RAM CHEN (Malone, Sean) (Entered: 12/26/2019)
2020-01-165Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 01/16/2020)
2020-01-21MINUTE ORDER granting 5 Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant must file its response to the 1 complaint by February 17, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/21/2020. (lcabj3) (Entered: 01/21/2020)
2020-02-186ANSWER to Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.(Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 02/18/2020)
2020-02-20MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of Local Civil Rule 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure appear to be inapplicable. Defendant shall file a dispositive motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for the completion of its production of documents to plaintiff, on or before March 20, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/20/2020. (lcabj3) (Entered: 02/20/2020)
2020-02-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall file a dispositive motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for the completion of its production of documents to plaintiff, on or before 3/20/2020. (jth) (Entered: 02/20/2020)
2020-03-207Joint STATUS REPORT by RAM CHEN. (Malone, Sean) (Entered: 03/20/2020)
2020-03-23MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 7 joint status report, the parties must submit another status report by May 20, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 3/23/2020. (lcabj3) (Entered: 03/23/2020)
2020-05-208Joint STATUS REPORT by RAM CHEN. (Stotter, Daniel) (Entered: 05/20/2020)
2020-05-21MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 8 joint status report, the parties must submit another status report by June 19, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/21/2020. (lcabj3) (Entered: 05/21/2020)
2020-06-199Joint STATUS REPORT by RAM CHEN. (Stotter, Daniel) (Entered: 06/19/2020)
2020-06-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 9 joint status report, the parties must submit another status report by July 20, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 6/22/2020. (lcabj3) (Entered: 06/22/2020)
2020-07-2010Joint STATUS REPORT by RAM CHEN. (Stotter, Daniel) (Entered: 07/20/2020)
2020-08-04MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 10 joint status report, the parties must submit another status report by August 20, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/4/2020. (lcabj3) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-08-2011Joint STATUS REPORT by RAM CHEN. (Stotter, Daniel) (Entered: 08/20/2020)
2020-08-24MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 11 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by October 30, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/24/2020. (lcabj3) (Entered: 08/24/2020)
2020-10-3012Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 10/30/2020)
2020-11-02MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 12 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by January 15, 2021. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/2/2020. (lcabj2) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2020-12-2013NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Thomas Duffey on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Kenneth Adebonojo (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/20/2020)
2021-01-1514Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 01/15/2021)
2021-01-19MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 14 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by March 15, 2021. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/19/21. (lcabj2) (Entered: 01/19/2021)
2021-03-1515Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 03/15/2021)
2021-03-17MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 15 joint status report, plaintiff is ORDERED to inform the Court if it has any objection to the bi-monthly status report proposed by defendant, and if so, why. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties meet and confer to determine whether the request for the contracts can be narrowed or completed after the production of other records and notify the Court by April 15, 2021. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 3/17/21. (lcabj2) (Entered: 03/17/2021)
2021-03-2216STATUS REPORT Per March 17, 2021 Minute Order by RAM CHEN. (Stotter, Daniel) (Entered: 03/22/2021)
2021-04-1517Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 04/15/2021)
2021-04-16MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 17 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by May 17, 2021. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 4/16/21. (lcabj2) (Entered: 04/16/2021)
2021-05-1718Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 05/17/2021)
2021-05-18MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 18 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by June 17, 2021. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/18/21. (lcabj2) (Entered: 05/18/2021)
2021-06-1719Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 06/17/2021)
2021-06-17MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 19 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by August 27, 2021. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 6/17/21. (lcabj2) (Entered: 06/17/2021)
2021-08-2720Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 08/27/2021)
2021-08-30MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 20 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by October 27, 2021. The Court encourages the parties to work together to narrow and prioritize the request. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/30/21. (lcabj2) (Entered: 08/30/2021)
2021-10-01Case directly reassigned to Judge Florence Y. Pan. Judge Amy Berman Jackson is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-10-2721Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 10/27/2021)
2021-10-28MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before December 30, 2021. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 10/28/21. (lcrl) (Entered: 10/28/2021)
2021-10-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/30/2021. (zacr) (Entered: 10/28/2021)
2021-12-3022Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/30/2021)
2022-01-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before March 2, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 1/3/2022. (lcrl) (Entered: 01/03/2022)
2022-01-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/2/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 01/04/2022)
2022-03-0223Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 03/02/2022)
2022-03-02MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another status on or before May 2, 2022, and every 60 days thereafter. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 3/2/22. (lcaa) (Entered: 03/02/2022)
2022-03-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/2/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 03/03/2022)
2022-05-0224Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-07-0625Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 07/06/2022)
2022-07-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another status report on or before October 5, 2022, and every 90 days thereafter. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 7/14/22. (lckw) (Entered: 07/14/2022)
2022-07-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/5/2022. (smc) (Entered: 07/14/2022)
2022-09-23Judge Florence Y. Pan has been elevated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She is therefore no longer assigned to this case, and this matter has been reassigned to the Calendar Committee, which will oversee it until it is assigned to another district judge. Any questions should be directed to Judge Pan's former deputy clerk, Samantha Calloway, at 202-354-3163 or samantha_calloway@dcd.uscourts.gov. (ztnr) (Entered: 09/23/2022)
2022-10-0526Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 10/05/2022)
2023-01-0527Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 01/05/2023)
2023-02-24Case directly reassigned to District Judge Ana C. Reyes. Circuit Judge Florence Y Pan is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 02/24/2023)
2023-04-0528Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 04/05/2023)
2023-07-0629Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 07/06/2023)
2023-10-0530Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 10/05/2023)
2024-01-0831Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 01/08/2024)
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