Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleCULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC v. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv00704
Date Filed2022-03-14
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Randolph D. Moss
PlaintiffCULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC
Case DescriptionThe law firm of Culhane Meadows, PLLC submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Postal Service for records concerning ethical conduct communications and instructions between the USPS Ethical Conduct Officer and USPS official Douglas Veatch. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency disclosed 17 pages but withheld portions under Exemption 5 (privileges). Culhane Meadows filed an administrative appeal. The agency upheld its original decision. Culhane Meadows then filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. POSTAL SERVICE
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

2022-03-141COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9102861) filed by CULHANE MEADOWS PLLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit FOIA request, # 2 Exhibit USPS response to FOIA request, # 3 Exhibit Administrative appeal, # 4 Exhibit USPS denial of administrative appeal, # 5 Summons Summons - US Attorney for DC, # 6 Summons Summons - USPS General Counsel, # 7 Summons Summons - Attorney General, # 8 Civil Cover Sheet)(Hendel, David) (Attachment 8 replaced on 3/22/2022) (znmw). (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-142LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CULHANE MEADOWS PLLC (Hendel, David) (Entered: 03/14/2022)
2022-03-15NOTICE OF ERROR re 1 Civil Cover Sheet; emailed to dhendel@cm.law, cc'd 1 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Form filed as fillable PDF. Please file form in a non-fillable PDF format., 2. Please share this information with anyone in your office that assists in electronically filing documents in this Court. For more detailed case opening instructions, please visit the court's website., 3. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (znmg, ) (Entered: 03/15/2022)
2022-03-153CIVIL COVER SHEET CORRECTED by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC re 1 Complaint, filed by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC. Related document: 1 Complaint, filed by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC.(Hendel, David) (Entered: 03/15/2022)
2022-03-16Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (znmg) (Entered: 03/16/2022)
2022-03-164SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 03/16/2022)
2022-03-175STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/17/2022. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 03/17/2022)
2022-04-076RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/30/2022. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/29/2022. (Hendel, David) (Entered: 04/07/2022)
2022-04-287NOTICE of Appearance by Patricia K. McBride on behalf of U.S. POSTAL SERVICE (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-04-288Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 04/28/2022)
2022-04-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's motion for extension of time, Dkt. 8 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall file an answer or other responsive pleading on or before May 31, 2022. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/29/2022. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
2022-05-319ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE.(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 05/31/2022)
2022-06-01MINUTE ORDER: The Court hereby ORDERS that, on or before June 20, 2022, the parties shall confer and file a joint status report addressing (1) any documents still to be produced pursuant to FOIA; (2) an anticipated schedule for processing and producing any such documents; and (3) any substantive areas of disagreement between the parties. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall appear by video for an Initial Scheduling Conference on June 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., before Judge Randolph D. Moss. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/1/2022. (lcrdm2) Modified on 6/2/2022 to correct typo in time of hearing (kt). (Entered: 06/01/2022)
2022-06-02Set/Reset Hearings: Initial Scheduling Conference set for 6/27/2022, at 10:00 AM, by video, before Judge Randolph D. Moss. (kt) (Entered: 06/02/2022)
2022-06-17MINUTE ORDER: Due to a conflict in the Court's calendar, it is hereby ORDERED that the initial scheduling conference set for June 27, 2022, is RESCHEDULED for June 28, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., to occur via Zoom. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/17/2022. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
2022-06-2110Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 06/21/2022)
2022-06-23MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 10 , it is hereby ORDERED that the Initial Scheduling Conference set for June 28, 2022 is VACATED. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before August 21, 2022. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/23/2022. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 06/23/2022)
2022-08-2211Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 08/22/2022)
2022-08-22MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' Joint Status Report, Dkt. 11 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further status report on October 20, 2022. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 08/22/2022. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 08/22/2022)
2022-10-1812Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 10/18/2022)
2022-10-18MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report, Dkt. 12 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties file a further joint status report on or before December 14, 2022. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/18/2022. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 10/18/2022)
2022-12-1413Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 12/14/2022)
2022-12-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report, Dkt. 13 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before February 1, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/20/2022. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 12/20/2022)
2023-01-3014Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-01-31MINUTE ORDER: In light of the Joint Status Report, Dkt. 14 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before April 12, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/31/2023. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 01/31/2023)
2023-04-1015Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 04/10/2023)
2023-04-11MINUTE ORDER: In light of the Joint Status Report, Dkt. 15 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before May 12, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/11/2023. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 04/11/2023)
2023-05-15MINUTE ORDER: The parties failed to file a joint status report by the May 12, 2023 deadline. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file the joint status report on or before May 17, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 5/15/2023. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-1716STATUS REPORT by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC. (Hendel, David) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
2023-05-22MINUTE ORDER: In light of the Plaintiff's status report, Dkt. 16 , it is hereby ORDERED that (1) the parties are instructed to review the Standing Order regarding Motions for Summary Judgment, see Dkt. 5; and (2) the parties shall file a further status report on or before June 2, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 5/22/2023. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-06-0217Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 06/02/2023)
2023-06-06MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 17 , it is hereby ORDERED that (1) Defendant shall provide Plaintiff with an Agency declaration and Vaughn Index on or before June 15, 2023; (2) Plaintiff shall submit a notice as described in the Court's Standing Order on or before June 23, 2023; (3) Defendant shall submit a response to Plaintiff's notice on or before July 6, 2023; and (4) the parties shall appear for a pre-motion conference on July 14, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., in Courtroom 8. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/6/2023. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 06/06/2023)
2023-06-2318NOTICE of Plaintiff's Basis for its Anticipated Motion for Summary Judgment by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC (Hendel, David) (Entered: 06/23/2023)
2023-07-0619NOTICE DEFENDANTS PRE-MOTION STATEMENT by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 07/06/2023)
2023-07-14Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Randolph D. Moss: Pre-motion Conference held on 7/14/2023. Defendants motion is due on or before 9/8/2023; Plaintiffs opposition and/or cross motion shall be due on or before 10/9/2023; Defendant opposition/reply shall be due on or before 11/10/23 and Plaintiffs reply shall be due on or before 12/15/2023. (Court Reporter Tammi Sefranek.) (zglw) (Entered: 07/14/2023)
2023-09-0520Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 09/05/2023)
2023-09-06MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Enlargement of Time 20 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before September 22, 2023. Plaintiff shall file its opposition and any cross-motions on or before October 22, 2023. Defendant shall file its reply and its opposition to any cross-motions on or before November 22, 2023. Plaintiff shall file its reply on or before December 22, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 9/6/23. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 09/06/2023)
2023-09-2121Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 09/21/2023)
2023-09-25MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Consent Motion for Enlargement of Time, Dkt. 21 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall file any dispositive motions on or before September 29, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 09/25/23. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-09-2922Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 09/29/2023)
2023-10-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Consent Motion for Extension of Time, Dkt. 22 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall file any dispositive motions on or before October 3, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/2/23. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 10/02/2023)
2023-10-0323Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 10/03/2023)
2023-10-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Enlargement of Time, Dkt. 23 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that: (1) Defendant shall file its motion for summary judgment on or before October 17, 2023; (2) Plaintiff shall file its opposition and any cross-motions on or before November 22, 2023; (3) Defendant shall file its opposition and reply on or before December 29, 2023; and (4) Plaintiff shall file its reply on or before January 26, 2024. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/3/23. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 10/03/2023)
2023-10-1724Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 10/17/2023)
2023-10-17MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Enlargement of Time, Dkt. 24 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall file a dispositive motion on or before October 18, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/17/23. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 10/17/2023)
2023-10-1825MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Exhibit Vaughn Index)(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 10/18/2023)
2023-10-1926ERRATA TO ADD EXHIBIT X by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE re 25 Motion for Summary Judgment. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit X)(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 10/19/2023)
2023-11-2127Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 11/21/2023)
2023-11-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time, Dkt. 27 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that (1) Plaintiff shall file its opposition to summary judgment and cross motion on or before December 1, 2023; (2) Defendant shall file its opposition and reply on or before January 12, 2024; and (3) Plaintiff shall file its reply to Defendant's opposition on or before February 7, 2024. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 11/21/23. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 11/21/2023)
2023-12-0128Memorandum in opposition to re 25 Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion for Summary Judgment filed by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Exhibit Exh.1 - USPS ELM (Sept. 2021) Section 6 excerpt)(Hendel, David) (Entered: 12/01/2023)
2023-12-0129Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC. (See Docket Entry 28 to view document) (zjm) (Entered: 12/01/2023)
2024-01-1230REPLY to opposition to motion re 29 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 01/12/2024)
2024-02-0731REPLY to opposition to motion re 29 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by CULHANE MEADOWS, PLLC. (Hendel, David) (Entered: 02/07/2024)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar