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Case TitlePROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02424
Date Filed2022-08-15
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Amy Berman Jackson
PlaintiffPROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.
Case DescriptionThe Project on Government Oversight submitted a FOIA request to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning allegations of sexual harassment and workplace sexual misconduct. POGO also requested a fee waiver and expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, POGO filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Expedited processing, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-08-151COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9443661) filed by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Dep't of Homeland Sec., # 3 Summons Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney for D.C.)(Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 08/15/2022)
2022-08-152LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC. (Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 08/15/2022)
2022-08-16Case Assigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. (zsb) (Entered: 08/16/2022)
2022-08-183SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmrl) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
2022-09-054RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/26/2022. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/25/2022. (Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 09/05/2022)
2022-09-265NOTICE of Appearance by Dedra Seibel Curteman on behalf of All Defendants (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 09/26/2022)
2022-09-266ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 09/26/2022)
2022-09-297ORDER. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of Local Civil Rule 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure appear to be inapplicable. Defendant shall file a dispositive motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for the completion of its production of documents to plaintiff, on or before October 27, 2022. See Order for details. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 09/29/2022. (lcabj2) (Entered: 09/29/2022)
2022-10-258STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 10/25/2022)
2022-11-01MINUTE ORDER. In light of defendant's 8 status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must file a joint status report by December 27, 2022. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/01/2022. (lcabj2) (Entered: 11/01/2022)
2022-12-219Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 12/21/2022)
2022-12-22MINUTE ORDER. In light of the parties' 9 joint status report, it is ORDERED that the parties must file another joint status report by February 21, 2023. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/22/2022. (lcabj2) (Entered: 12/22/2022)
2022-12-22Set/Reset Deadline: Joint Status Report due by 2/21/2023. (jth) (Entered: 12/22/2022)
2023-02-2110Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 02/21/2023)
2023-03-0311Supplemental STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 03/03/2023)
2023-03-0312Supplemental STATUS REPORT by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 03/03/2023)
2023-03-03MINUTE ORDER. In light of the 10 joint status report and the 11 12 supplemental status reports, defendant must inform plaintiff of an anticipated page count by March 21, 2023. The parties must submit a joint status report by March 24, 2023, informing the Court whether they have been able to agree to a production schedule based on that information. The first of the rolling productions is due by April 17, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 03/03/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 03/03/2023)
2023-03-2413Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 03/24/2023)
2023-04-03MINUTE ORDER. In light of the 13 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by April 24, 2023. Further, defendant must increase its processing rate to at least 600 pages per month. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 04/03/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 04/03/2023)
2023-04-2414Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/24/2023)
2023-04-26MINUTE ORDER. In light of the 14 joint status report, the parties must submit another joint status report by May 24, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 04/26/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 04/26/2023)
2023-05-2215MOTION FOIA Processing Order by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Weismann, Anne) Modified event on 5/22/2023 (znmw). (Entered: 05/22/2023)
2023-05-2416Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 05/24/2023)
2023-06-01MINUTE ORDER. In the 16 joint status report, the parties requested that "the Court order a scheduling conference to discuss Plaintiff's pending motion for miscellaneous relief, which... is set to be fully briefed as of June 12, 2023." The Court will schedule a conference if it deems one to be necessary after reviewing the submissions. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 06/01/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 06/01/2023)
2023-06-0517Memorandum in opposition to re 15 Motion for Order filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit)(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 06/05/2023)
2023-06-1218REPLY to opposition to motion re 15 MOTION for Order filed by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 06/12/2023)
2023-06-1219MOTION for Discovery by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 06/12/2023)
2023-06-2220MOTION for Extension of Time to File Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Take Discovery by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 06/22/2023)
2023-06-2221ERRATA by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY re 20 Motion for Extension of Time to. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 06/22/2023)
2023-06-2322Memorandum in opposition to re 20 Motion for Extension of Time to filed by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 06/23/2023)
2023-06-26MINUTE ORDER. Notwithstanding plaintiff's opposition, the 20 Motion for Extension of Time is GRANTED. Defendant must respond to the 19 Motion for Leave to Conduct Discovery by July 3, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 06/26/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-2923Memorandum in opposition to re 19 Motion for Discovery filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Exhibit)(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 06/29/2023)
2023-07-0524REPLY to opposition to motion re 19 MOTION for Discovery filed by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 07/05/2023)
2023-07-1125Consent MOTION for Leave to File Surreply by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 07/11/2023)
2023-07-1126SURREPLY to re 24 Plaintiff's Reply filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Declaration)(Curteman, Dedra) Modified to add link on 8/1/2023 (znmw). (Entered: 07/11/2023)
2023-07-13MINUTE ORDER granting 25 Consent Motion for Leave to File a Surreply. The 26 Surreply is deemed filed by the Court. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 07/13/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 07/13/2023)
2023-07-2427Unopposed MOTION for Leave to File surreply by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-07-2428SURREPLY to re 19 MOTION for Discovery (Proposed) filed by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-07-25MINUTE ORDER granting 27 Plaintiff's Consent Motion for Leave to File a Surreply. The 28 Surreply and the accompanying exhibits [28-1] [28-2] are deemed filed by the Court. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 07/25/2023. (lcabj2) (Entered: 07/25/2023)
2024-01-0429MOTION for Hearing Status Conference by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Weismann, Anne) Modified event on 1/5/2024 (znmw). (Entered: 01/04/2024)
2024-01-1730Memorandum in opposition to re 29 Motion for Hearing, filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
2024-01-18MINUTE ORDER denying 29 Motion for Status Conference. While the Court acknowledges that plaintiff is understandably frustrated by the pace of production, plaintiff's request that the Court hold a conference to delve into the merits of specific withholdings and redactions to date is premature, as the Court does not yet have the benefit of a Vaughn index, agency declarations, or full briefing. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/18/2024 (lcabj2) (Entered: 01/18/2024)
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