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Case TitleLOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv02371
Date Filed2021-09-07
Date Closed2024-02-20
JudgeJudge John D. Bates
PlaintiffLOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC
Case DescriptionThe Louise Trauma Center, which advocates on behalf of immigrant women who have suffered gender-based violence submitted 11 FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning s variety of topics. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Louise Trauma Center filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Opinion/Order [35]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-09-071COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8715898) filed by Louise Trauma Center LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Cleveland, David) (Entered: 09/07/2021)
2021-09-09Case Assigned to Judge John D. Bates. (znmg) (Entered: 09/09/2021)
2021-09-092SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 09/09/2021)
2021-09-163RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09/15/2021. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Cleveland, David) (Entered: 09/16/2021)
2021-09-164RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 9/14/2021 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Cleveland, David) (Entered: 09/16/2021)
2021-10-195MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 10/19/2021)
2021-10-19MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 5 defendant's motion for an extension of time to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's complaint, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that defendant's motion is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that defendant shall answer or respond by not later than November 12, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/19/21. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 10/19/2021)
2021-10-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 11/12/2021. (tb) (Entered: 10/21/2021)
2021-11-076RESPONSE re 5 MOTION for Extension of Time filed by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) Modified to add link on 11/8/2021 (znmw). (Entered: 11/07/2021)
2021-11-127MOTION for Extension of Time to FILE AN ANSWER OR OTHER RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-12MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 7 defendant's motion to enlarge time to file an answer or other response to plaintiff's complaint, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that defendant shall answer or respond by not later than February 15, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/12/21. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 2/15/2022. (tb) (Entered: 11/16/2021)
2022-02-158MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 02/15/2022)
2022-02-169Memorandum in opposition to re 8 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint filed by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 02/16/2022)
2022-02-16MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 8 defendant's motion to enlarge time to file an answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's complaint, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that defendant shall answer or respond by not later than April 15, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/16/2022. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 02/16/2022)
2022-02-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 4/15/2022. (tb) (Entered: 02/17/2022)
2022-04-1510MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 04/15/2022)
2022-04-1611Memorandum in opposition to re 10 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint filed by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 04/16/2022)
2022-04-18MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 10 defendant's motion for an extension of time to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint, 11 plaintiff's opposition, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that defendant's motion is GRANTED, nunc pro tunc to April 15, 2022; it is further ORDERED that defendant shall answer or otherwise respond by not later than June 15, 2022; and it is further ORDERED that a joint status conference is hereby scheduled for June 6, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. by videoconference. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 4/18/2022. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 04/18/2022)
2022-04-19Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Answer due by 6/15/2022. Joint Status Conference set for 6/6/2022 at 10:00 AM in Telephonic/VTC before Judge John D. Bates. (tb) (Entered: 04/19/2022)
2022-06-06Minute Entry: Status Conference held on 6/6/2022 before Judge John D. Bates: Parties discussed production of documents. Proposed Schedule for completion of production due by 6/10/2022. Response due by 6/14/2022. (Court Reporter Lida Moreira) (tb) (Entered: 06/07/2022)
2022-06-1012STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 06/10/2022)
2022-06-1213REPLY re 12 Status Report filed by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 06/12/2022)
2022-06-23MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 12 defendant's status report, 13 plaintiff's reply, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer in a further attempt to resolve their remaining differences and, by not later than July 22, 2022, shall submit a joint status report detailing specifically their respective updated positions as to each of plaintiff's requests; and it is further ORDERED that a status conference is hereby scheduled for July 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. by videoconference. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 6/23/2022. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 06/23/2022)
2022-06-27Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 7/22/2022. Status Conference set for 7/26/2022 at 11:00 AM in Telephonic/VTC before Judge John D. Bates. (tb) (Entered: 06/27/2022)
2022-07-2114STATUS REPORT by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
2022-07-2215STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 07/22/2022)
2022-07-26Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge John D. Bates: Status Hearing held on 7/26/2022; Order to be issued by the Court. (Court Reporter Elizabeth Saint-Loth.) (ztg) (Entered: 07/26/2022)
2022-07-2616ORDER regarding schedule of production and briefing. See text of Order for details. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 7/26/2022. (lcjdb1) (Entered: 07/26/2022)
2022-07-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Attorney Meet and Confer Conference due by 8/31/2022. Joint Status Report due by 10/10/2022. Summary Judgment motion due by 10/31/2022. (tb) (Entered: 07/27/2022)
2022-10-1017STATUS REPORT by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 10/10/2022)
2022-10-1218STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-10-12MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 17 plaintiff's status report, 18 defendant's status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a joint status report by not later than December 5, 2022; it is further ORDERED that such report shall address, among other things, the status of defendant's review of documents related to the fourth cause of action, and the report shall certify that the parties have met and conferred as to further search terms and custodians; it is further ORDERED that the deadline for defendant to file a motion for summary judgment is hereby STAYED; and it is further ORDERED that defendant shall file an answer or response to plaintiff's complaint by not later than December 5, 2022 unless the parties indicate in the December 5, 2022 status report that they have agreed otherwise. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/12/2022. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-10-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/5/2022; Defendant shall file an answer or response to plaintiff's complaint by 12/5/2022 unless the parties indicate in the 12/5/2022 Joint Status Report that they have agreed otherwise. (jth) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-10-3119NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Sam Escher on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Substituting for attorney Kenneth A. Adebonojo (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 10/31/2022)
2022-12-0520Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 12/05/2022)
2022-12-09MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 20 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than January 18, 2023; and it is further ORDERED that in the report, defendant shall provide a more detailed update on the status of its response to each request, including an estimated timeline for any outstanding review and production. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 12/9/2022. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 12/09/2022)
2022-12-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/18/2023. (tb) (Entered: 12/14/2022)
2023-01-1821Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 01/18/2023)
2023-01-18MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 21 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than March 20, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 1/18/2023. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 01/18/2023)
2023-01-24ENTERED IN ERROR.....Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/17/2023. (tb) Modified on 1/24/2023 (tb). (Entered: 01/24/2023)
2023-01-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/20/2023. (tb) (Entered: 01/24/2023)
2023-03-2022STATUS REPORT by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-03-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 22 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall confer about the remaining two requests and, by not later than April 24, 2023, submit a joint status report informing the Court that they have reached an agreement on the scope of defendant's searches or a proposed briefing schedule for defendant's motion for summary judgment. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 3/20/2023. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-03-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/24/2023. (tb) (Entered: 03/24/2023)
2023-04-2423Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-04-25MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 23 the joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than June 22, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 4/25/2023. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 04/25/2023)
2023-04-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/22/2023. (tb) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-06-2024Joint STATUS REPORT by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 06/20/2023)
2023-06-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 24 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint report by not later than July 6, 2023 proposing a summary judgment briefing schedule. If the parties are unable to agree on a joint schedule, the report should include each party's proposed schedule. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 6/21/2023. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 06/21/2023)
2023-06-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 7/6/2023 (zjch, ) (Entered: 06/22/2023)
2023-07-0625Joint STATUS REPORT by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 07/06/2023)
2023-07-1126SCHEDULING ORDER. See text of Order for details. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 7/11/2023. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 07/11/2023)
2023-07-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment due by 8/18/2023; Plaintiff's Response in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/1/2023; Defendant's Reply in Support of Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Defendant's Response in Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/15/2023; Plaintiff's Reply in Support of Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/29/2023. (kk) (Entered: 07/13/2023)
2023-08-1427MOTION for Summary Judgment by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Panter Declaration, # 3 Exhibits, # 4 USCIS RAIO Research Unit SOP, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 08/14/2023)
2023-08-2328RESPONSE re 27 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts)(Cleveland, David) (Entered: 08/23/2023)
2023-08-2329Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts)(Cleveland, David) (Entered: 08/23/2023)
2023-09-1530REPLY to opposition to motion re 27 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Response to Plaintiff's Statement of Facts, # 2 Second Declaration of Panter, # 3 Emails to Plaintiff (May 15 and 26, 2023), # 4 Maryland Letter Order)(Escher, Sam) (Entered: 09/15/2023)
2023-09-1531Memorandum in opposition to re 29 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Response to Plaintiff's Statement of Facts, # 2 Second Panter Declaration, # 3 Emails to Plaintiff (May 15 and 26, 2023), # 4 Maryland Letter Order)(Escher, Sam) Modified on 9/19/2023 (zjm). Modified on 9/25/2023 to remove error(zjm). (Entered: 09/15/2023)
2023-09-19NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 31 Memorandum in Opposition,. The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect event. Duplicate of entry 30 . Please refile. (zjm) (Entered: 09/19/2023)
2023-09-2032ERRATA by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY re 31 Memorandum in Opposition,. (Escher, Sam) (Entered: 09/20/2023)
2023-09-2033REPLY to opposition to motion re 29 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Cleveland, David) (Entered: 09/20/2023)
2024-02-2034ORDER granting 27 defendant's motion for summary judgment and denying 29 plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/20/2024. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 02/20/2024)
2024-02-2035MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/20/2024. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 02/20/2024)
2024-02-2836MOTION for Attorney Fees by LOUISE TRAUMA CENTER LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit)(Cleveland, David) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
2024-02-2837NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Joseph F. Carilli, Jr on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Sam Escher (Carilli, Joseph) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
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