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Case TitleSMALLS et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv02285
Date Filed2021-08-23
Date Closed2022-02-18
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffCHARISSA A. SMALLS
PlaintiffEUGENE C. SMALLS
Case DescriptionCharissa and Eugene Smalls submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Housing and Urban Development concerning a property they owned. Dissatisfied with the agency's response, the Smalls filed an administrative appeal. Ultimately, the Smalls filed suit.
Complaint issues: Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-08-231COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Filing fee $ 402 Receipt Number 200483) filed by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibits, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(eg) Modified on 9/3/2021 to add receipt information (eg). (Entered: 08/31/2021)
2021-08-31SUMMONS Not Issued as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (eg) (Entered: 08/31/2021)
2021-08-312STANDING ORDER Establishing Procedures for Cases Before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The parties are hereby ORDERED to read and comply with the directives in the attached standing order. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 08/31/2021. (lctnm2) (Entered: 08/31/2021)
2021-10-22MINUTE ORDER. Plaintiffs filed their Complaint in this case on August 23, 2021. As of the date of this Order, the public docket reflects that Plaintiffs have yet to file proof of service for the Defendant. The Court directs Plaintiffs' attention to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) and Local Civil Rule 5.3. It is hereby ORDERED that, by no later than November 21, 2021, Plaintiffs must either cause process to be served upon the Defendant and file proof of service with the Court or establish good cause for the failure to do so. Failure to make such filings will result in dismissal of this case as to any unserved Defendant. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/22/2021. (lctnm3) (Entered: 10/22/2021)
2021-10-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff's proof of service due by 11/21/2021. (hmc) (Entered: 10/22/2021)
2021-11-053NOTICE by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS re Order,, (eg) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-154NOTICE by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS (zeg) (Entered: 11/19/2021)
2021-11-155NEW Request Regarding Pro Se Consent To Receive Notices of Electronic Filing by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS (zeg) (Entered: 11/19/2021)
2021-12-10MINUTE ORDER. The Court requests the Clerk of Court to send blank summonses to the Plaintiffs at their address of record or electronically. Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(b), Plaintiffs shall complete those summonses and present them to the Clerk of the Court. Once the Clerk stamps the summonses, Plaintiffs shall serve a copy of their Complaint and the summonses on the Defendant as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4. Plaintiffs shall complete service by January 17, 2022. Failure to do so will likely result in dismissal of the case for failure to serve under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 12/10/21. (lctnm2) (Entered: 12/10/2021)
2021-12-216NOTICE by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS (zeg) (Entered: 12/23/2021)
2021-12-217REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS.(eg) (Entered: 12/23/2021)
2021-12-238Summons (1) Issued as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (zeg) (Entered: 12/23/2021)
2022-01-059NOTICE to the Court by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS (zeg) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-01-0510MOTION for Extension of Time by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS. (Attachment: # 1 Order)(zeg) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-01-10MINUTE ORDER granting 10 Motion for Extension of Time. Plaintiffs shall file proofs of service by January 27, 2022. Failure to do so will result in dismissal of this case under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) for failure to serve. The Court also directs Plaintiffs to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i) regarding service on an agency of the United States. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/10/22. (lctnm2) (Entered: 01/10/2022)
2022-01-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Proof of service due by 1/27/2022. (zhmc) (Entered: 01/11/2022)
2022-01-1411RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 1/4/2022 (zeg) (Entered: 01/20/2022)
2022-01-1912MOTION for Extension of Time by CHARISSA A. SMALLS, EUGENE C. SMALLS. (zeg) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-21MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiffs' 12 Motion for Extension of Time. Plaintiffs shall file proof of service by February 10, 2022. Failure to do so will result in dismissal of this case under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). No more extensions of time will be given. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/21/22. (lctnm2) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-01-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiffs' proof of service due by 2/10/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 01/21/2022)
2022-02-0313RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 1/20/2022 (eg) (Entered: 02/07/2022)
2022-02-1814ORDER dismissing case under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) for failure to serve. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 2/18/22. (lctnm2) (Entered: 02/18/2022)
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