Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleCATO INSTITUTE v. U.S. SECRET SERVICE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv01224
Date Filed2022-05-02
Date Closed2023-01-12
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffCATO INSTITUTE
Case DescriptionThe Cato Institute submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Secret Service for records concerning intelligence reports that mentioned the terms "anarchist," "anti-fascists", or "Youth Liberation Front." The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests and told the Cato Institute the request was too broad to search. The Cato Institute filed an administrative appeal, arguing that the request was not too broad. The agency agreed to search a narrowed request but indicated it would need to review thousands of files to conduct a search. After hearing nothing further from the agency, the Cato Institute filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

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

2022-05-021COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9209073) filed by CATO INSTITUTE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex 1-10, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-05-022NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Topic on behalf of CATO INSTITUTE (Topic, Matthew) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-05-023NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Loevy on behalf of CATO INSTITUTE (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
2022-05-03Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (znmg) (Entered: 05/03/2022)
2022-05-034SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 05/03/2022)
2022-05-035STANDING 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 5/3/22. (lctnm2) (Entered: 05/03/2022)
2022-05-266RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. SECRET SERVICE served on 5/11/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 05/26/2022)
2022-05-267RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 5/11/2022 (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 05/26/2022)
2022-05-268RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 05/12/2022. (Loevy, Joshua) (Entered: 05/26/2022)
2022-06-109NOTICE of Appearance by April Denise Seabrook on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 06/10/2022)
2022-06-1310ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE.(Seabrook, April) (Entered: 06/13/2022)
2022-06-13NOTICE OF ERROR re 10 Answer to Complaint; emailed to april.seabrook@usdoj.gov, cc'd 6 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Please note the following for future filings; do not refile document , 2. Judges initials are TNM (zeg, ) (Entered: 06/13/2022)
2022-06-13MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court are a complaint and an answer in this FOIA case. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule should address, among other things, the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, and a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if required. The parties shall file the schedule on or before July 13, 2022. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 6/13/22. (lctnm2) (Entered: 06/13/2022)
2022-06-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/13/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 06/14/2022)
2022-07-1311Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE. (Seabrook, April) (Entered: 07/13/2022)
2022-07-13MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 11 Joint Status Report, the Court directs the parties to file another JSR by October 11, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/13/22. (lctnm2) (Entered: 07/13/2022)
2022-07-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/11/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 07/14/2022)
2022-08-0912NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Marsha Wellknown Yee on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE Substituting for attorney April Denise Seabrook (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/09/2022)
2022-10-1113Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-11MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the 13 Joint Status Report, the Court directs the parties to file another JSR by January 11, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/11/2022. (lctnm2) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-10-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/11/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 10/11/2022)
2022-12-0914NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Lshauntee J. Robertson on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Marsha Yee (Robertson, Lshauntee) (Entered: 12/09/2022)
2023-01-1115STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE. (Robertson, L'Shauntee) (Entered: 01/11/2023)
2023-01-11MINUTE ORDER: After considering the 15 Stipulation of Dismissal, this case is hereby DISMISSED with prejudice. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The Clerk of Court shall close this case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/11/2023. (lctnm2) (Entered: 01/11/2023)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar