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Case TitlePROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST v. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02352
Date Filed2022-08-09
Date Closed2023-10-04
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffPROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST
Case DescriptionProject the Public's Trust submitted a FOIA request to the EPA for records concerning an ethics complaint filed against Joseph Goffman. PPT also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, PPT filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-08-091COMPLAINT against U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9430757) filed by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - FOIA EPA-2022-002747, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons Summons -- U.S. Attorney's Office, # 4 Summons Summons -- U.S. Attorney General, # 5 Summons Summons - EPA)(Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 08/09/2022)
2022-08-10Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (znmg) (Entered: 08/10/2022)
2022-08-102SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 08/10/2022)
2022-08-223STANDING 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 8/22/2022. (lctnm1) (Entered: 08/22/2022)
2022-09-024NOTICE of Appearance by Anna Davis Walker on behalf of U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 09/02/2022)
2022-09-065Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer or Otherwise Respond to the Complaint by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Anna) (Entered: 09/06/2022)
2022-09-07MINUTE ORDER granting the 5 Motion for Extension of Time. The Government's responsive pleading is now due on or before September 30, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/7/2022. (lctnm1) (Entered: 09/07/2022)
2022-09-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Government's responsive pleading due by 9/30/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 09/07/2022)
2022-09-306ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.(Walker, Anna) (Entered: 09/30/2022)
2022-09-30MINUTE 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 October 21, 2022. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 9/30/2022. (lctnm1) (Entered: 09/30/2022)
2022-10-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/21/2022. (hmc) (Entered: 10/04/2022)
2022-10-207Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-10-20MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by January 19, 2023, detailing the status of the Government's productions, and whether a Vaughn Index and summary judgment briefing will be necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/20/2022. (lctnm1) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-10-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/19/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2023-01-198Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 01/19/2023)
2023-01-20MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by March 20, 2023, detailing the status of the Government's productions, and whether a Vaughn Index and summary judgment briefing will be necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 1/20/2023. (lctnm1) (Entered: 01/20/2023)
2023-01-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/20/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 01/20/2023)
2023-03-209Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-03-20MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by May 19, 2023, detailing the status of the Government's productions, and whether a Vaughn Index and summary judgment briefing will be necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 3/20/2023. (lctnm1) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-03-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/19/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 03/21/2023)
2023-05-1910Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 05/19/2023)
2023-05-22MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall submit another Joint Status Report by July 19, 2023, detailing the status of the Government's productions, and whether a Vaughn Index and summary judgment briefing will be necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 5/22/2023. (lctnm1) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-05-22Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/19/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-07-1211NOTICE by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 07/12/2023)
2023-07-1212LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST (Lawkowski, Gary) (Entered: 07/12/2023)
2023-07-1913Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-07-19MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall file another Joint Status Report by September 19, 2023, which must include a briefing schedule, unless the parties file a stipulation of dismissal before then. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/19/2023. (lctnm1) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-07-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/19/2023. (hmc) (Entered: 07/20/2023)
2023-09-1914Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Anna) (Entered: 09/19/2023)
2023-09-26MINUTE ORDER: The parties are ORDERED to appear for a status hearing on October 10, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. in Courtroom 2 before Judge McFadden. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 09/26/2023. (lctnm1) (Entered: 09/26/2023)
2023-10-0315STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Walker, Anna) (Entered: 10/03/2023)
2023-10-04MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' 15 Stipulation of Dismissal, and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), the Court ORDERS that this matter is DISMISSED with prejudice. The Clerk of Court is directed to close the case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 10/04/2023. (lctnm1) (Entered: 10/04/2023)
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