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Case TitleStevens v. US Department of Justice et al
DistrictNorthern District of Illinois
CityChicago
Case Number1:2021cv02232
Date Filed2021-04-26
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeHonorable LaShonda A. Hunt
PlaintiffJacqueline Stevens
PlaintiffU.S. Department of Agriculture
Case DescriptionJacqueline Stevens, a professor of political science at Northwestern University, submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and the Department of the Navy for records concerning various migrants who were now deceased. Stevens also requested expedited processing. The agencies acknowledged receipt of her requests. Some agencies responded in part. After hearing nothing from most of the agencies, Stevens filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUS Department of Justice
DefendantU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
DefendantU.S. Customs and Border Protection
DefendantUSCIS
DefendantExecutive Office of Immigration Review
DefendantU.S. Navy
DefendantDepartment of State
DefendantUSDA
Documents
Docket
Complaint
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-04-261COMPLAINT filed by Jacqueline Stevens; Filing fee $ 402, receipt number 0752-18176535.(Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 04/26/2021)
2021-04-262CIVIL Cover Sheet (Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 04/26/2021)
2021-04-26CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Sunil R. Harjani. Case assignment: Random assignment. (as, ) (Entered: 04/26/2021)
2021-04-27SUMMONS Issued as to Defendants Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, USCIS (crl, ) (Entered: 04/27/2021)
2021-05-203DESIGNATION of Alex Harms Hartzler as U.S. Attorney for Defendants Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 05/20/2021)
2021-06-094MOTION by Defendants Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS for extension of time to file answer regarding complaint 1 (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 06/09/2021)
2021-06-095MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr:The defendants' motion for an extension of time 4 is granted. The defendants' answer or other responsive pleading is now due 6/30/21. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 06/09/2021)
2021-06-146NOTICE by Jacqueline Stevens re complaint 1 Errata (Attachments: # 1 Appendix Corrected Complaint)(Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 06/14/2021)
2021-06-14NEW PARTIES: Department of State and USDA added to case caption. (Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 06/14/2021)
2021-06-167MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: The plaintiff is directed to enter her corrected complaint, attached as Exhibit 1 to Dkt. 6, as its own entry on the docket. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 06/16/2021)
2021-06-168Corrected Complaint by Jacqueline Stevens (Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 06/16/2021)
2021-06-309ANSWER to Complaint by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA(Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 06/30/2021)
2021-07-0110MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: The parties are directed to review the procedures for initial status reports, located at [https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/judge-info.aspx?79eF+7uiX7ewBj/ITKrjoA==] and to submit an initial status report by 7/8/21. The report should include a proposed case management schedule reflecting any disputes between the parties as to the proposed schedule. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 07/01/2021)
2021-07-06SUMMONS Issued as to Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Navy, U.S. Attorney, and U.S. Attorney General (jmk, ) (Entered: 07/06/2021)
2021-07-0711STATUS Report (Joint Status Report) by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 07/07/2021)
2021-07-0712MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: Upon review of the parties' joint status report 11 , the parties are directed to file a further status report by 9/6/2021 on the status of the plaintiff's FOIA requests. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 07/07/2021)
2021-09-0313STATUS Report (Joint Status Report) by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 09/03/2021)
2021-09-0714MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: Upon review of the parties' joint status report 13 , the parties are directed to file a further status report by 11/8/2021 on the status of the plaintiff's FOIA requests. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 09/07/2021)
2021-11-0815STATUS Report (Joint Status Report) by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 11/08/2021)
2021-11-0916MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: Upon review of the parties' joint status report 15 , the parties are directed to file a further status report by 1/10/2022 on the status of the plaintiff's FOIA requests. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 11/09/2021)
2022-01-1017STATUS Report (Joint Status Report) by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-01-1018MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: Upon review of the parties' joint status report 17 , the parties are directed to file a further status report by 2/9/2022 on the status of the plaintiff's FOIA requests and containing a proposed briefing schedule for summary judgment motions. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-02-0919STATUS Report (Joint Status Report) by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 02/09/2022)
2022-02-1020MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr:Upon review of the parties' joint status report 19 , the Court adopts the parties' proposed briefing schedule. The defendants' motion or motions for summary judgment is due by 3/31/2022; the plaintiff's response is due by 5/13; and the defendants' reply is due by 6/3. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 02/10/2022)
2022-03-2221MOTION by Defendants Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA for extension of time to file (Unopposed Motion to Extend Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule) (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
2022-03-2322MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: The defendants' unopposed motion for an extension of time 21 is granted. The briefing schedule is modified as follows: the defendants' motion or motions for summary judgment is due by 4/15/2022; the plaintiff's response is due by 5/27/2022; and the defendants' reply is due by 6/17/2022. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 03/23/2022)
2022-03-3123MOTION by Defendants Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA for extension of time to file (Unopposed Motion to Extend Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule) (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 03/31/2022)
2022-04-0124MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr:The defendants' unopposed motion for an extension of time 23 is granted. The defendants' motion for summary judgment is due by 6/3/2022; the plaintiff's response is due by 7/1; and the defendants' reply is due by 7/22. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 04/01/2022)
2022-05-2525MOTION by Defendants Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA (Motion for Leave to Submit Additional LR 56.1 Statements of Fact) (Unopposed) (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 05/25/2022)
2022-05-2726MOTION by Defendants Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA for extension of time to file (Unopposed Motion to Extend Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule) (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
2022-05-2727MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr:The defendants' unopposed motion for leave to submit additional statements of fact pursuant to LR 56.1 25 is granted. The defendants may submit a total of 100 statements of fact. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
2022-05-3128MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr:The defendants' unopposed motion for an extension of time 26 is granted. The briefing schedule is modified as follows: the defendants' motion is due by 6/24/2022; the plaintiff's response is due by 7/22, and the defendants reply is due by 8/12. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 05/31/2022)
2022-06-2429MOTION by Defendants Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of State, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, USDA, USCIS for summary judgment (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 06/24/2022)
2022-06-2430MEMORANDUM by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA in support of motion for summary judgment, 29 (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 06/24/2022)
2022-06-2431RULE 56 (LR 56.1) Statement by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA regarding motion for summary judgment, 29 (LR 56.1 Statement of Material Facts in Support of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment) (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 06/24/2022)
2022-07-1932MOTION by Plaintiff Jacqueline Stevens for extension of time to File Response to MSJ (Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 07/19/2022)
2022-07-2033MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr:Plaintiff's unopposed motion for an extension of time 32 is granted. The plaintiff's response to the defendants' motion for summary judgment is due by 8/1/2022. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 07/20/2022)
2022-07-2034DOCUMENT REMOVED(air, ). (Entered: 07/20/2022)
2022-07-2635NOTICE of Correction for entry #34. (air, ) (Entered: 07/26/2022)
2022-08-0136RESPONSE by Jacqueline Stevensin Opposition to MOTION by Defendants Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of State, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, USDA, USCIS for summary judgment 29 (Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 08/01/2022)
2022-08-0137RULE 56 56(c) Statement by Jacqueline Stevens regarding motion for summary judgment, 29 and Response to DSOF and Declaration of Plaintiff (Glazer, Nicolette) (Entered: 08/01/2022)
2022-08-0238MINUTE entry before the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr: The defendants' reply in support of their motion for summary judgment 29 is due by September 2, 2022. Mailed notice (air, ) (Entered: 08/02/2022)
2022-09-0239REPLY by Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA to response in opposition to motion, 36 (Reply in Support of Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment) (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 09/02/2022)
2022-09-0240RESPONSE by Defendants Department of State, Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Navy, US Department of Justice, USCIS, USDA to Rule 56 statement 37 (Defendants' Response to Plaintiff's Statement of Additional Facts) (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 09/02/2022)
2022-12-2941ANNUAL REMINDER: Pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 (Notification of Affiliates) , any nongovernmental party, other than an individual or sole proprietorship, must file a statement identifying all its affiliates known to the party after diligent review or, if the party has identified no affiliates, then a statement reflecting that fact must be filed. An affiliate is defined as follows: any entity or individual owning, directly or indirectly (through ownership of one or more other entities), 5% or more of a party. The statement is to be electronically filed as a PDF in conjunction with entering the affiliates in CM/ECF as prompted. As a reminder to counsel, parties must supplement their statements of affiliates within thirty (30) days of any change in the information previously reported. This minute order is being issued to all counsel of record to remind counsel of their obligation to provide updated information as to additional affiliates if such updating is necessary. If counsel has any questions regarding this process, this LINK will provide additional information. Signed by the Executive Committee on 12/29/2022: Mailed notice. (tg, ) (Entered: 12/30/2022)
2023-06-0242EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ORDER: GENERAL ORDER 23-0023: IT APPEARING THAT, the civil cases on the attached list have been selected for reassignment to form the initial calendar of the Honorable LaShonda A Hunt; therefore IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the attached list of 282 cases be reassigned to the Honorable Lashonda A Hunt; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all parties affected by this Order must review the Honorable LaShonda A Hunt's webpage on the Court's website for the purpose of reviewing instructions regarding scheduling and case management procedures; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any civil case that has been reassigned pursuant to this Order will not be randomly reassigned to create the initial calendar of a new district judge for twelve months from the date of this Order; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is directed to add the Honorable LaShonda A Hunt to the Court's civil case assignment system during the next business day, so that she shall receive a full share of such cases; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is directed to add the Honorable Lashonda A Hunt to the Court's criminal case assignment system ninety (90) days so that Judge Hunt shall thereafter receive a full share of such cases. Case reassigned to the Honorable LaShonda A. Hunt for all further proceedings. Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr no longer assigned to the case. Signed by Honorable Rebecca R. Pallmeyer on 6/02/2023.(tg, ) (Entered: 06/02/2023)
2023-06-2843MINUTE entry before the Honorable LaShonda A. Hunt: This case has been reassigned to the calendar of Judge Hunt. Defendants' motion for summary judgment 29 is fully briefed and taken under advisement. The Court will rule by mail. The parties are directed to provide courtesy copies within 14 days of entry of this order. Requirements for courtesy copies may be found on Judge Hunt's webpage on the Court's website. Mailed notice. (kl, ) (Entered: 06/28/2023)
2023-12-2844ANNUAL REMINDER: Pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 (Notification of Affiliates) , any nongovernmental party, other than an individual or sole proprietorship, must file a statement identifying all its affiliates known to the party after diligent review or, if the party has identified no affiliates, then a statement reflecting that fact must be filed. An affiliate is defined as follows: any entity or individual owning, directly or indirectly (through ownership of one or more other entities), 5% or more of a party. The statement is to be electronically filed as a PDF in conjunction with entering the affiliates in CM/ECF as prompted. As a reminder to counsel, parties must supplement their statements of affiliates within thirty (30) days of any change in the information previously reported. This minute order is being issued to all counsel of record to remind counsel of their obligation to provide updated information as to additional affiliates if such updating is necessary. If counsel has any questions regarding this process, this LINK will provide additional information. Signed by the Executive Committee on 12/28/2023: Mailed notice. (tg, ) (Entered: 12/28/2023)
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