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Case TitleEDDINGTON v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv00398
Date Filed2020-02-11
Date Closed2021-03-01
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffPATRICK EDDINGTON
Case DescriptionPatrick Eddington, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records previously disclosed to FOIA requester Assia Boundaoui regarding Operation VULGAR BETRAYAL. Eddington also requested expedited processing and a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied Eddington's request for expedited processing. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Eddington filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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

2020-02-111COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6819798) filed by PATRICK EDDINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons)(Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 02/11/2020)
2020-02-112NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Hart Burday on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 02/11/2020)
2020-02-113NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of PATRICK EDDINGTON (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 02/11/2020)
2020-02-12Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (adh, ) (Entered: 02/12/2020)
2020-02-124SUMMONS (4)Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 02/12/2020)
2020-02-245ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 2/24/20. (DM) (Entered: 02/24/2020)
2020-03-136NOTICE of Appearance by Sian Jones on behalf of All Defendants (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-03-237ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 03/23/2020)
2020-03-258RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 2/21/2020 (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-259RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 2/19/2020 (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-2510RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 2/20/2020. (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-2511RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 2/20/2020. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 3/21/2020. (Burday, Joshua) (Entered: 03/25/2020)
2020-03-2612ORDER- The parties shall file a Joint Status Report by 4/16/2020, proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 03/26/2020. (DM) (Entered: 03/26/2020)
2020-04-1413Unopposed MOTION to Stay Proceedings by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 04/14/2020)
2020-04-1514ORDER granting 13 Motion to Stay and requiring parties to file Joint Status Report by no later than APRIL 27, 2020 . See Order for details. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on April 15, 2020. (lccck1) (Entered: 04/15/2020)
2020-04-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/27/2020. (dot) (Entered: 04/15/2020)
2020-04-2715Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Hardy, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 04/27/2020)
2020-04-29MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 15 Joint Status Report. Defendant explains that some employees of RIDS may be returning to work as of April 29, 2020, but that to implement social distancing measures in response to COVID-19, only a certain group of employees will be returning and only a certain percentage (one-third) will be available on any given day. As a result, the capacity of RIDS processing will be limited. Defendant therefore requests that the Court continue the stay and indicates that Plaintiff agrees on this course of action. Accordingly, the court ADOPTS Defendant's suggestion and does not lift the stay in this case. Moreover, the parties shall file another Joint Status Report on or before MAY 27, 2020 with further updates and addressing whether the stay should be lifted. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on April 29, 2020. (lccck1) (Entered: 04/29/2020)
2020-04-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/27/2020 with further updates and addressing whether the stay should be lifted. (dot) (Entered: 04/29/2020)
2020-05-2716Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 05/27/2020)
2020-05-28MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 16 Joint Status Report. Defendants explain that some employees of RIDS have returned to work as of April 29, 2020, in a limited capacity. This limited capacity has impacted Defendants' ability to process Plaintiff's request, but Defendant expects to be able to make a release in June 2020. Defendants therefore ask that the Court continue the stay and indicates that Plaintiff agrees on this course of action. Accordingly, the Court ADOPTS Defendant's suggestion and does not lift the stay in this case. Moreover, the parties shall file another Joint Status Report on or before JUNE 30, 2020 with further updates and addressing whether the stay should be lifted. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on May 28, 2020. (lccck1) (Entered: 05/28/2020)
2020-05-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/30/2020 with further updates and addressing whether the stay should be lifted. (dot) (Entered: 05/28/2020)
2020-06-3017Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian) (Entered: 06/30/2020)
2020-07-01MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 17 Joint Status Report. Defendants report that the FBI was making a release of 32,225 pages in response to Plaintiff's request on the date of filing (June 30, 2020). Defendants propose, and Plaintiff agrees, that it would now be appropriate to lift the stay in this matter. Accordingly, the Court ADOPTS the parties' suggestion and LIFTS THE STAY in this matter. The parties shall further file a Joint Status Report on or before AUGUST 14, 2020 with updates and proposing a schedule for further proceedings as necessary. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 1, 2020. (lccck1) (Entered: 07/01/2020)
2020-08-1418Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 08/14/2020)
2020-08-16MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 18 Joint Status Report. The Court notes that the parties have been reviewing released documents and request time to meet and confer regarding the potential need for dispositive briefing. The parties shall submit another joint status report on or before SEPTEMBER 14, 2020. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on August 16, 2020.(lcckk1) (Entered: 08/16/2020)
2020-08-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/14/2020. (dot) (Entered: 08/17/2020)
2020-09-1419Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 09/14/2020)
2020-09-14MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 19 Joint Status Report. The Court notes that Plaintiff has reviewed the requested documents and is now engaged in discussions with Defendants regarding the potential resolution of this action. The parties shall submit another joint status report to address any progress in dispute resolution by or before OCTOBER 16, 2020. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on Septeber 14, 2020. (lcckk1) (Entered: 09/14/2020)
2020-09-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/16/2020. (dot) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
2020-10-1620Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 10/16/2020)
2020-10-16MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 20 Joint Status Report. Therein, the parties note that they are pursuing a potential resolution of this litigation. The parties shall file another Joint Status Report by or before NOVEMBER 20, 2020. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on October 16, 2020. (lcckk1) (Entered: 10/16/2020)
2020-10-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/20/2020. (dot) (Entered: 10/16/2020)
2020-11-2021Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 11/20/2020)
2020-11-22MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 21 Joint Status Report. As proposed therein, the parties shall file another joint status report by DECEMBER 18, 2020, unless the parties have filed a stipulation of dismissal before that time. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on November 22, 2020. (lcckk1) (Entered: 11/22/2020)
2020-11-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/18/2020, unless the parties have filed a stipulation of dismissal before that time. (dot) (Entered: 11/23/2020)
2020-12-1822Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2020-12-19MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 22 Joint Status Report. As proposed therein, the parties shall file another joint status report by JANUARY 19, 2021, unless the parties have filed a stipulation of dismissal before that time. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on December 19, 2020. (lcckk1) (Entered: 12/19/2020)
2020-12-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/19/2021, unless the parties have filed a stipulation of dismissal before that time. (dot) (Entered: 12/21/2020)
2021-01-1923Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 01/19/2021)
2021-01-20MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 23 Joint Status Report. As proposed therein, the parties shall file another joint status report by MARCH 2, 2021, unless the parties have filed a stipulation of dismissal before that time. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on January 20, 2021. (lcckk1) (Entered: 01/20/2021)
2021-01-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/2/2021. (dot) (Entered: 01/21/2021)
2021-03-0124STIPULATION of Dismissal by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 03/01/2021)
2021-03-0225ORDER. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on March 2, 2021. (lcckk1) (Entered: 03/02/2021)
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