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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv01259
Date Filed2020-05-13
Date Closed2022-02-23
JudgeJudge Emmet G. Sullivan
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
PlaintiffUNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight and the Union of Concerned Scientists submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration for records concerning the relocation of two USDA divisions, the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture from Washington, DC to Kansas City. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from either agency, American Oversight and the Union of Concerned Scientists filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DefendantU.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
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

2020-05-131COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7120850) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons as to USAO, # 3 Summons as to AG, # 4 Summons as to GSA, # 5 Summons as to USDA)(Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 05/13/2020)
2020-05-132LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS (Attachments: # 1 Rule LCvR26.1 Disclosure as to UCS)(Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 05/13/2020)
2020-05-13Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (adh, ) (Entered: 05/13/2020)
2020-05-133SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 05/13/2020)
2020-05-144STANDING 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 05/14/20. (Attachment: Exhibit 1) (mac) (Entered: 05/14/2020)
2020-06-185RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/26/2020. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/25/2020.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 6/1/2020., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE served on 5/26/2020; U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION served on 5/22/2020 (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 06/18/2020)
2020-06-256ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.(Truong, John) (Entered: 06/25/2020)
2020-06-26MINUTE 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 July 24, 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 Plaintiff's 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 6/26/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 06/26/2020)
2020-06-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Scheduling Order due by 7/24/2020 (mac) (Entered: 06/29/2020)
2020-07-247Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 07/24/2020)
2020-07-27MINUTE ORDER. In view of 7 joint status report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report by no later than August 25, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 7/27/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 07/27/2020)
2020-07-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/25/2020 (mac) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
2020-08-258Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 08/25/2020)
2020-08-26MINUTE ORDER. In view of 8 joint status report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report by no later than October 25, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 8/26/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-08-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/25/2020. (mac) (Entered: 08/27/2020)
2020-10-269Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 10/26/2020)
2020-10-26MINUTE ORDER. In view of 9 joint status report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report by no later than December 4, 2020. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 10/26/2020. (lcegs2) (Entered: 10/26/2020)
2020-10-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/4/2020 (mac) (Entered: 10/27/2020)
2020-12-0410Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
2020-12-07MINUTE ORDER. In view of 10 joint status report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report by no later than February 3, 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 2/3/2021 (mac) (Entered: 12/08/2020)
2021-02-0311Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 02/03/2021)
2021-02-03MINUTE ORDER. In view of 11 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than March 25, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 2/3/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 02/03/2021)
2021-02-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/25/2021. (mac) (Entered: 02/04/2021)
2021-03-2512Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 03/25/2021)
2021-03-29MINUTE ORDER. In view of 12 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a further joint status report by no later than May 25, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 3/29/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 03/29/2021)
2021-03-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/25/2021 (mac) (Entered: 03/30/2021)
2021-05-2513Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 05/25/2021)
2021-05-26MINUTE ORDER. In view of 13 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report by no later than July 26, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 5/26/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 05/26/2021)
2021-05-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/26/2021. (mac) (Entered: 05/27/2021)
2021-07-2614Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 07/26/2021)
2021-07-27MINUTE ORDER. In view of 14 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report by no later than October 4, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 7/27/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 07/27/2021)
2021-07-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/4/2021 (mac) (Entered: 07/28/2021)
2021-10-0415Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. (Truong, John) (Entered: 10/04/2021)
2021-10-05MINUTE ORDER. In view of 15 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report by no later than December 4, 2021. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 10/5/2021. (lcegs2) (Entered: 10/05/2021)
2021-10-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/4/2021 (mac) (Entered: 10/06/2021)
2021-12-0316Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 12/03/2021)
2021-12-07MINUTE ORDER. In view of 16 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report by no later than February 3, 2022. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 12/7/2021. (lcegs1) (Entered: 12/07/2021)
2021-12-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/3/2022 (mac) (Entered: 12/08/2021)
2021-12-17MINUTE ORDER. In view of 15 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another joint status report by no later than February 8, 2022. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 12/7/2021. (lcegs1) (Entered: 12/17/2021)
2021-12-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/8/2022 (mac) (Entered: 12/20/2021)
2022-02-0217Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 02/02/2022)
2022-02-2318STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS. (Shaw, Khahilia) (Entered: 02/23/2022)
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