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Case TitleKARA-MURZA v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv00545
Date Filed2020-02-25
Date Closed2022-03-03
JudgeJudge Florence Y. Pan
PlaintiffVLADIMIR KARA-MURZA
Case DescriptionVladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent pro-democracy activist in Russia who was poisoned while in Russia in 2015 and 2017, submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning the results of tests the agency conducted on samples of Kara-Murza's blood in 2018 to determine what had caused his hospitalization in Russia. Kara-Murza also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but denied Kara-Murza's request for expedited processing. After Kara-Murza's counsel inquired about filing an administrative appeal he was told that since the FBI had not yet made an adverse determination, there was nothing to appeal. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Kara-Murza filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Failure to respond within statutory time limit

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-02-251COMPLAINT against All Plaintiffs ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6859865) filed by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons as to AG, # 3 Summons as to USAO)(Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-252MOTION to Permit Plaintiff to Proceed Using Attorneys' Address by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-253MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Samuel Howe, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-6860801. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-26Case Assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras. (adh, ) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-264SUMMONS (2) Issued Electronically as to U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-26MINUTE ORDER granting 3 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.2(d), it is hereby ORDERED that Samuel Ross Howe is admitted to represent Plaintiff pro hac vice in this case. The Court notes that Mr. Howe maintains an office within the District of Columbia and that his admission to the District of Columbia Bar is pending. In light of Local Civil Rule 83.2(c)(2), Mr. Howe is instructed to apply for admission to the Bar of this Court as soon as his admission to the District of Columbia Bar is complete. The Court also notes that the motion did not include the meet-and-confer statement required under the Local Rules for all non-dispositive motions. See D.D.C. Civ. R. 7(m). The parties are reminded for future reference that all motions must comply with the Local Rules. SO ORDERED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Clic k for instructions . Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on February 26, 2020. (lcrc3) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-275NOTICE of Defendant's Consent by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA re 2 MOTION to Permit Plaintiff to Proceed Using Attorneys' Address (Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 02/27/2020)
2020-03-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 2 Plaintiff's motion to proceed using attorneys' address and 5 Defendant's notice of consent to this motion, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff may proceed using his attorneys' address. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on March 5, 2020. (lcrc3) (Entered: 03/05/2020)
2020-03-106RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 2/27/2020. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 3/28/2020. (Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 03/10/2020)
2020-03-137NOTICE of Appearance by Paul Cirino on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 03/13/2020)
2020-03-248Consent MOTION to Stay Proceedings by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Michael G. Seidel, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 03/24/2020)
2020-03-24MINUTE ORDER granting 8 Defendant's consent motion to stay proceedings. It is hereby ORDERED that these proceedings, including Defendant's deadline to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint, are STAYED, and that Defendant shall promptly notify the Court after RIDS employees are able to return to their office. It is FURTHER ORDERED that, until RIDS employees are able to return to their office, Defendant shall provide Plaintiff with an informal report regarding the operating status of RIDS on April 1, 2020, and every 14 days thereafter. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on March 24, 2020. (lcrc3) (Entered: 03/24/2020)
2020-03-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 4/1/2020 (tj) (Entered: 03/24/2020)
2020-05-019NOTICE Concerning Resumption of FOIA Operations by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of David M. Hardy)(Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 05/01/2020)
2020-05-1210Consent MOTION to Lift Stay , Consent MOTION to Set Deadlines by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 05/12/2020)
2020-05-12MINUTE ORDER granting 10 Defendant's consent motion to lift stay. It is hereby ORDERED that the stay in these proceedings is LIFTED. It is FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint no later than May 19, 2020. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer regarding Defendant's response to Plaintiff's FOIA request and file a joint status report no later than May 29, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 5/12/2020. (lcrc3) (Entered: 05/12/2020)
2020-05-1911ANSWER to Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 05/19/2020)
2020-05-2912Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-05-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 12 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before June 24, 2020, and every 45 days thereafter. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 05/29/2020. (lcrc3) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-06-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 6/24/2020. (tj) (Entered: 06/01/2020)
2020-06-2413Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 06/24/2020)
2020-08-1014Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-09-2415Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Cirino, Paul) (Entered: 09/24/2020)
2020-11-0916Joint STATUS REPORT by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA. (Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 11/09/2020)
2020-12-2017NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Thomas Duffey on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Paul Cirino (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/20/2020)
2020-12-2418Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/24/2020)
2021-02-0819Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 02/08/2021)
2021-03-2520Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 03/25/2021)
2021-03-26MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 20 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall appear before the Court by telephone for a status conference on May 10, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. Specific call-in instructions will be sent by email. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 3/26/2021. (lcrc3) (Entered: 03/26/2021)
2021-03-26Set/Reset Hearings: Telephone Status Conference set for 5/10/2021 at 10:00 AM before Judge Rudolph Contreras. (tj) (Entered: 03/26/2021)
2021-05-10Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Rudolph Contreras: Status Conference held on 5/10/2021. Parties inform the court of the status of this action, and the following deadlines are set by the court: Government to complete production by 5/14/2021; Plaintiff to provide a list of issues in contention by 6/4/2021; Parties will have a meet and confer session (with agency counsel present) by 6/18/2021; Agency to provide draft of Vaughn Index by 7/2/2021. (Court Reporter: Sara Wick) (tj) (Entered: 05/10/2021)
2021-07-14MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and submit a joint status report on or before August 2, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 7/14/2021. (lcrc3) (Entered: 07/14/2021)
2021-08-0221Joint STATUS REPORT by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA. (Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 08/02/2021)
2021-08-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 21 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before September 1, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 8/3/2021. (lcrc3) (Entered: 08/03/2021)
2021-08-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 9/1/2021. (tj) (Entered: 08/04/2021)
2021-09-0122Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 09/01/2021)
2021-09-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/1/2021. (zgdf) (Entered: 09/02/2021)
2021-09-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 22 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before October 1, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 9/2/2021. (lcrc1) (Entered: 09/02/2021)
2021-10-0123Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-10-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 23 the parties' joint status report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before December 1, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 10/1/2021. (lcrc3) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-10-01Case directly reassigned to Judge Florence Y. Pan. Judge Rudolph Contreras is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-10-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/1/2021 (tj) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-12-0124Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Duffey, Thomas) (Entered: 12/01/2021)
2021-12-01MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before February 1, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 12/1/21. (lcaa) (Entered: 12/01/2021)
2021-12-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/1/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 12/01/2021)
2022-02-0125Joint STATUS REPORT by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA. (Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 02/01/2022)
2022-02-02MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before March 3, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 2/2/22. (lcaa) (Entered: 02/02/2022)
2022-02-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/3/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 02/02/2022)
2022-03-0326Joint STATUS REPORT AND STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA. (Siegel, Andrew) (Entered: 03/03/2022)
2022-03-0327STIPULATION of Dismissal by VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA. (See Docket Entry 26 to view document) (zjf) (Entered: 03/03/2022)
2022-03-03NOTICE OF ERROR re 26 Status Report; emailed to asiegel@cov.com, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Two-part docket entry, 2. DO NOT REFILE - Counsel is reminded to docket all parts of their filing (zjf, ) (Entered: 03/03/2022)
2022-03-04MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 26 Joint Status Report and 27 Stipulation of Dismissal, this case is dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a), with each party to bear its own costs. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 3/4/22. (lcaa) (Entered: 03/04/2022)
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