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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv02821
Date Filed2022-09-16
Date Closed2024-02-05
JudgeJudge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning an August 6, 2020 briefing by supervisory intelligence analyst Brian Auten for Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). The FBI acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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

2022-09-161COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9524540) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Justice, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney General)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 09/16/2022)
2022-09-162LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 09/16/2022)
2022-09-19Case Assigned to Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. (znmg) (Entered: 09/19/2022)
2022-09-193SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 09/19/2022)
2022-09-194STANDING ORDER. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 19, 2022. (lcbah) (Entered: 09/19/2022)
2022-09-305RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/16/2022. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/16/2022.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 9/26/2022., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 9/26/2022 (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 09/30/2022)
2022-10-136NOTICE of Appearance by Benton Gregory Peterson on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 10/13/2022)
2022-10-197ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 10/19/2022)
2022-11-14MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING plaintiff to SHOW CAUSE, by November 28, 2022, why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.23. The parties have yet to file their abbreviated Joint Meet and Confer Report, which was due on November 2, 2022, fourteen days after defendant's 7 Answer. See 4 Standing Order ¶ 4.b.ii (identifying requirements for FOIA cases). Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 14, 2022. (lcbah1) (Entered: 11/14/2022)
2022-11-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Response to Show Cause due by 11/28/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 11/15/2022)
2022-11-168Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 11/16/2022)
2022-11-169RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE re Order, filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 11/16/2022)
2022-11-16MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report detailing a proposed schedule for the production of responsive records by December 20, 2022. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 16, 2022. (lcbah1) (Entered: 11/16/2022)
2022-11-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/20/2022. (ztg) (Entered: 11/16/2022)
2022-12-1910Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 12/19/2022)
2022-12-20MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report detailing a proposed schedule for the production of responsive records by January 27, 2023. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on December 20, 2022. (lcbah1) (Entered: 12/20/2022)
2022-12-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/27/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 12/21/2022)
2023-01-2711Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 01/27/2023)
2023-01-30MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report detailing a proposed schedule for the production of responsive records by March 6, 2023. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 30, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-01-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/6/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 01/31/2023)
2023-03-0612Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 03/06/2023)
2023-03-07MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report by April 6, 2023, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 7, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 03/07/2023)
2023-03-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/6/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 03/07/2023)
2023-04-0613Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 04/06/2023)
2023-04-07MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report by June 6, 2023, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 7, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 04/07/2023)
2023-04-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/6/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 04/10/2023)
2023-06-0514Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 06/05/2023)
2023-06-06MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report by July 21, 2023, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 6, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 06/06/2023)
2023-06-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/21/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 06/07/2023)
2023-07-2115Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 07/21/2023)
2023-07-25MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties 15 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report by August 21, 2023, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on July 25, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 07/25/2023)
2023-07-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/21/2023. (ztg) (Entered: 07/26/2023)
2023-08-2416Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 08/24/2023)
2023-08-24MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, the parties to file a joint status report by September 21, 2023, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 24, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 08/24/2023)
2023-08-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/21/2023 (mac) (Entered: 08/25/2023)
2023-09-2117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 09/21/2023)
2023-09-25MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING the parties, upon consideration of their 17 Joint Status Report, to submit, by October 23, 2023, a joint status report, advising the Court of the status of this matter, whether any disputes remain between the parties, and if so, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 25, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-09-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/23/2023 (mac) (Entered: 09/25/2023)
2023-10-2318Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 10/23/2023)
2023-10-24MINUTE ORDER (paperless) ISSUING, upon consideration of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report, the following SCHEDULING ORDER: (1) by January 4, 2024, defendant shall file any motion for summary judgment; (2) by February 5, 2024, plaintiff shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment; (3) by March 5, 2024, defendant shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiffs cross-motion; and (4) by March 19, 2024, plaintiff shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 24, 2023. (lcbah1) (Entered: 10/24/2023)
2023-10-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant Motion For Summary Judgment due by 01/04/2024. Plaintiff Opposition And Cross-Motion For Summary Judgment due by 02/05/2024. Defendant Reply And Opposition To Plaintiffs Cross-Motion due by 03/05/2024. Plaintiff Reply In Support Of The Cross-Motion due by 03/19/2024. (mac) (Entered: 10/25/2023)
2024-01-0219Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 01/02/2024)
2024-01-03MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING defendant's 19 Motion for Extension of Time to File, and MODIFYING the SCHEDULING ORDER issued on October 24, 2023, as follows: (1) by January 10, 2024, defendant shall file any motion for summary judgment; (2) by February 16, 2024, plaintiff shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment; (3) by March 11, 2024, defendant shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiff's cross-motion; and (4) by March 26, 2024, plaintiff shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on January 3, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 01/03/2024)
2024-01-1020MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 01/10/2024)
2024-02-0121STIPULATION of Dismissal with Prejudice by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 02/01/2024)
2024-02-05MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DISMISSING this matter, with prejudice, pursuant to the parties' 21 Stipulation of Dismissal and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on February 5, 2024. (lcbah1) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
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