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Case TitleBUZZFEED INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv00790
Date Filed2022-03-22
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffBUZZFEED INC.
Case DescriptionBuzzFeed, Inc submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning emails and text messages sent to Gregg Johnstone, Special Countermeasures Section Chief regarding the report from the JASON science advisory group report on injuries sustained by U.S. diplomatic personnel in Cuba in 2016 and 2017. The agency acknowledged receipt and gave BuzzFeed an estimated date of completion. However, after hearing nothing further from the agency, BuzzFeed filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees, Adequacy - Search

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

2022-03-221COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9120651) filed by BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex 1-5, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
2022-03-222LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
2022-03-223NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
2022-03-224NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
2022-03-25Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zmh) (Entered: 03/25/2022)
2022-03-255SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmh) (Entered: 03/25/2022)
2022-03-286ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 03/28/2022. (DM) (Entered: 03/28/2022)
2022-04-247NOTICE of Appearance by Sean Michael Tepe on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 04/24/2022)
2022-05-068AMENDED COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE filed by BUZZFEED INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex 1-5)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/06/2022)
2022-05-209ANSWER to 8 Amended Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 05/20/2022)
2022-05-2010ORDER. Joint status report due on or before June 24, 2022 . Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on May 20, 2022. (lcckk1) (Entered: 05/20/2022)
2022-05-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/24/2022. (dot) (Entered: 05/23/2022)
2022-06-2411Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 06/24/2022)
2022-07-13MINUTE ORDER: The Court is in receipt of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report. In consideration thereof, the parties shall file their next joint status report on or before August 23, 2022 and, if necessary, every ninety days thereafter. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 13, 2022. (lcckk1) (Entered: 07/13/2022)
2022-07-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/23/2022 and, if necessary, every ninety days thereafter. (dot) (Entered: 07/13/2022)
2022-08-2312Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 08/23/2022)
2022-11-2113Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Tepe, Sean) (Entered: 11/21/2022)
2022-12-0814ENTERED IN ERROR.....NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by John Bardo on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Sean Tepe (Bardo, John) Modified on 12/8/2022 correct at entry 15 (zjm). (Entered: 12/08/2022)
2022-12-0815NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by John Bardo on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Substituting for attorney Sean Tepe (Bardo, John) (Entered: 12/08/2022)
2023-02-0616RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 4/11/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-02-0617RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 4/11/2022. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-02-0618RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/11/2022. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/11/2022. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-02-1619Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 02/16/2023)
2023-02-2820NOTICE of Appearance by Merrick Jason Wayne on behalf of BUZZFEED INC. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 02/28/2023)
2023-03-1721Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 03/17/2023)
2023-04-1822Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 04/18/2023)
2023-04-1823NOTICE of Appearance by John Bardo on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Bardo, John) (Entered: 04/18/2023)
2023-05-1824Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 05/18/2023)
2023-07-1725Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 07/17/2023)
2023-08-1426Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Bardo, John) (Entered: 08/14/2023)
2023-09-1527STIPULATION of Dismissal by BUZZFEED INC.. (Wayne, Merrick) (Entered: 09/15/2023)
2023-09-19ORDER dismissing case with prejudice. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to close this case. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on September 18, 2023. (lcckk1) (Entered: 09/19/2023)
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