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Case TitleBUZZFEED INC. v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv00515
Date Filed2022-02-28
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffBUZZFEED INC.
Case DescriptionBuzzFeed, Inc. submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning the unprocessed records from the Yale Law School bombing. BuzzFeed also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency put BuzzFeed in the "other" request category and indicated it would need to pay $475 in fees. BuzzFeed an administrative appeal, arguing that it belonged in the media fee category. However, while its appeal was pending, BuzzFeed agreed to pay the $475 fee under protest to move the request forward. After hearing nothing further from the agency, BuzzFeed filed suit.
Complaint issues: Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees, Failure to respond within statutory time limit

DefendantFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-02-281COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9069189) filed by BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1-11, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-02-282NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-02-283LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 02/28/2022)
2022-03-01Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (znmg) (Entered: 03/01/2022)
2022-03-044SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zeg) (Entered: 03/04/2022)
2022-03-075STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on March 7, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 03/07/2022)
2022-04-126NOTICE of Appearance by Thomas Anthony Quinn on behalf of All Defendants (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 04/12/2022)
2022-04-147ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 04/14/2022)
2022-04-27MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 16.3, the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) are inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before May 6, 2022. The Joint Status Report shall address: (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA requests; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); (5) the possibility of prioritizing documents responsive to Plaintiff's requests and any discussions regarding whether Plaintiff's requests can be narrowed; and (6) whether the Parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on April 27, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 04/27/2022)
2022-04-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/6/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 04/27/2022)
2022-05-048NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 05/04/2022)
2022-05-069Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 05/06/2022)
2022-05-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of 9 the Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an updated joint status report on or before August 12, 2022. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 13, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 05/13/2022)
2022-05-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/12/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 05/16/2022)
2022-08-1210Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 08/12/2022)
2022-08-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 10 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an updated Joint Status Report on or before October 12, 2022, including a proposal for future proceedings. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on August 16, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 08/16/2022)
2022-08-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/12/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 08/16/2022)
2022-10-1211Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 10/12/2022)
2022-10-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 11 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before December 12, 2022, and every 60 days thereafter until either party moves for a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, files a dispositive motion, or the case is terminated. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 19, 2022. (lccjn2) (Entered: 10/19/2022)
2022-10-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/12/2022. (zcal) (Entered: 10/21/2022)
2022-12-1212Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 12/12/2022)
2023-02-0913Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 02/09/2023)
2023-02-2814NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 02/28/2023)
2023-03-1015Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 03/10/2023)
2023-04-1016Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 04/10/2023)
2023-06-0917Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-07-1818NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Anna Davis Walker on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Thomas Anthony Quinn (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 07/18/2023)
2023-08-1119Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 08/11/2023)
2023-10-1020Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 10/10/2023)
2023-12-0721Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 12/07/2023)
2024-02-0622Joint STATUS REPORT by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 02/06/2024)
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