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Case TitleCITIZENS UNITED v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv01132
Date Filed2021-04-27
Date Closed2022-08-19
JudgeChief Judge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffCITIZENS UNITED
Case DescriptionCitizens United submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of State for emails concerning Hunter Biden's business schedule. Citizens United also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests and denied Citizens United's requests for expedited processing. However, after hearing nothing further from the agency concerning either request, Citizens United filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-04-271COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8402494) filed by CITIZENS UNITED. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C, # 5 Exhibit D, # 6 Summons to State Department, # 7 Summons to US Attorney, # 8 Summons to Attorney General)(Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 04/27/2021)
2021-04-272LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CITIZENS UNITED (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 04/27/2021)
2021-04-28NOTICE OF ERROR re 1 Complaint; emailed to jmorgan@lawandfreedom.com, cc'd 0 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Attorney is provisional. Please renew your membership. See https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-admissions-and-renewal-information., 2. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (znmg, ) (Entered: 04/28/2021)
2021-04-30Case Assigned to Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. (znmg) (Entered: 04/30/2021)
2021-04-303SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 04/30/2021)
2021-05-034STANDING ORDER. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on May 3, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 05/03/2021)
2021-06-015NOTICE of Appearance by Alexander V. Sverdlov on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Sverdlov, Alexander) (Entered: 06/01/2021)
2021-06-016ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Sverdlov, Alexander) (Entered: 06/01/2021)
2021-06-157Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-16MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 7 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by August 5, 2021. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 16, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 06/16/2021)
2021-06-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/5/2021. (ztg) (Entered: 06/17/2021)
2021-08-058Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 08/05/2021)
2021-08-06MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by September 10, 2021. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 6, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/06/2021)
2021-09-109Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 09/10/2021)
2021-09-13MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by October 18, 2021. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 13, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 09/13/2021)
2021-09-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/18/2021. (ztg) (Entered: 09/14/2021)
2021-10-1810Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 10/18/2021)
2021-10-18MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by November 19, 2021. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 18, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 10/18/2021)
2021-10-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/19/2021. (ztg) (Entered: 10/19/2021)
2021-11-1911Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 11/19/2021)
2021-11-22MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by January 19, 2022, with a proposed schedule to govern further proceedings in this matter. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 22, 2021. (lcbah1) (Entered: 11/22/2021)
2021-11-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/19/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 11/23/2021)
2022-01-1912Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 01/19/2022)
2022-01-19MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit a joint status report by April 19, 2022, with a proposed schedule to govern further proceedings in this matter. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 19, 2022. (lcbah1) (Entered: 01/19/2022)
2022-01-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/19/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 01/19/2022)
2022-04-1913Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 04/19/2022)
2022-04-20MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit, by May 19, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 20, 2022. (lcbah1) (Entered: 04/20/2022)
2022-04-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/19/2022 (ztg) (Entered: 04/21/2022)
2022-05-2014Joint STATUS REPORT by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 05/20/2022)
2022-05-23MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, the parties to submit, by August 19, 2022, a joint status report advising the Court whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on May 23, 2022. (lcbah1) (Entered: 05/23/2022)
2022-05-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/19/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 05/24/2022)
2022-08-1815STIPULATION of Dismissal by CITIZENS UNITED. (Morgan, Jeremiah) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
2022-08-18MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DISMISSING this matter, without prejudice, pursuant to the parties' joint 15 Stipulation of Dismissal. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 18, 2022. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
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