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Case TitleAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE v. UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv01619
Date Filed2021-06-15
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Reggie B. Walton
PlaintiffAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
Case DescriptionThe American Center for Law and Justice submitted a FOIA request to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for records concerning the termination or closing of any investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency told ACLJ that because records responsive to its request were part of another pending litigation it could not respond until that case was decided. ACLJ then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-06-151COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8528140) filed by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A to Complaint, # 2 Exhibit B to Complaint, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons to Def. ODNI, # 5 Summons to US Attorney for DC, # 6 Summons to US Attorney General)(Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-152NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin Paul Sisney on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-153LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-154NOTICE of Appearance by Stuart J. Roth on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Roth, Stuart) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-15Case Assigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton. (zsb) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-155SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-156NOTICE of Appearance by John Monaghan on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-297RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/17/2021. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/17/2021. (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/29/2021)
2021-06-298RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 06/22/2021. (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/29/2021)
2021-06-299RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE served on 6/17/2021 (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/29/2021)
2021-07-0810GENERAL ORDER FOR CIVIL CASES BEFORE THE HONORABLE REGGIE B. WALTON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on July 8, 2021. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 07/08/2021)
2021-07-1911NOTICE of Appearance by Christopher Charles Hair on behalf of UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 07/19/2021)
2021-07-1912ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.(Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 07/19/2021)
2021-07-20MINUTE ORDER. To ensure the expeditious resolution of this action, and because this qualifies as an exempted case under Local Civil Rule 16.3(b), it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before August 18, 2021, the parties shall file a joint proposed briefing schedule governing further proceedings. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on July 20, 2021. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 07/20/2021)
2021-07-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 8/18/2021 (hs) (Entered: 07/21/2021)
2021-08-1813Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 08/18/2021)
2021-08-26MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before October 18, 2021, and every sixty days thereafter, the parties shall file an additional status report describing the status of the defendant's records production and how this case should proceed. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 26, 2021. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 08/26/2021)
2021-08-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/18/2021 (hs) (Entered: 08/27/2021)
2021-10-1814Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 10/18/2021)
2021-10-20MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before December 17, 2021, the parties shall file another joint status report describing the status of the defendant's records production and how this case should proceed. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 20, 2021. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 10/20/2021)
2021-10-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/17/2021 (hs) (Entered: 10/20/2021)
2021-12-1715Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 12/17/2021)
2021-12-20MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before February 15, 2022, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on December 20, 2021. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 12/20/2021)
2021-12-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/15/2022. (adh) (Entered: 12/20/2021)
2022-02-1516Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/15/2022)
2022-02-15MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before April 18, 2022, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 15, 2022. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 02/15/2022)
2022-02-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/18/2022. (adh, ) (Entered: 02/16/2022)
2022-04-0817NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Sean Michael Tepe on behalf of UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE Substituting for attorney Christopher Hair (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 04/08/2022)
2022-04-1818Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 04/18/2022)
2022-04-18MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before June 17, 2022, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on April 18, 2022. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 04/18/2022)
2022-04-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/17/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 04/18/2022)
2022-06-1719Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
2022-06-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before August 16, 2022, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on June 17, 2022. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
2022-06-17Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 8/16/2022. (zcdw) (Entered: 06/21/2022)
2022-08-1620Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 08/16/2022)
2022-08-17MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before November 14, 2022, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 17, 2022. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
2022-08-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/14/2022 (mac) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
2022-11-1421Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 11/14/2022)
2022-11-15MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before February 13, 2023, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 15, 2022. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-11-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/13/2023 (mac) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2023-02-1322Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 02/13/2023)
2023-02-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before May 15, 2023, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 13, 2023. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 02/13/2023)
2023-02-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/15/2023 (mac) (Entered: 02/14/2023)
2023-05-1523Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before August 10, 2023, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on May 16, 2023. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 05/16/2023)
2023-08-1024Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 08/10/2023)
2023-08-11MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report on or before November 8, 2023, regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on August 11, 2023. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 08/11/2023)
2023-08-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Joint Status Report due by 11/8/2023 (mac) (Entered: 08/11/2023)
2023-10-2425NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Kaitlin Kerry Eckrote on behalf of UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE Substituting for attorney Sean M. Tepe (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 10/24/2023)
2023-11-0826Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 11/08/2023)
2023-11-09MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before February 6, 2024, the parties shall submit a joint status report regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on November 9, 2023. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 11/09/2023)
2024-02-0627Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 02/06/2024)
2024-02-07MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 27 Joint Status Report, and for good cause shown, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before April 5, 2024, the parties shall submit a joint status report regarding how they wish to proceed in this case. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on February 7, 2024. (lcrbw3) (Entered: 02/07/2024)
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