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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2022cv03147
Date Filed2022-10-17
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Secret Service for records concerning communications by the FBI to the Secret Service pertaining to the search of Mar-a-Lago. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Adequacy - Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index

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

2022-10-171COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9602418) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Homeland Security, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney)(Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-10-172LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-10-17Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zsb) (Entered: 10/17/2022)
2022-10-193SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsl) (Entered: 10/19/2022)
2022-10-204ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 10/20/2022. (DM) (Entered: 10/20/2022)
2022-10-275RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/20/2022. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/19/2022.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/26/2022., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 10/25/2022 (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit Brooke Paz)(Cotca, Ramona) (Entered: 10/27/2022)
2022-11-176Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 11/17/2022)
2022-11-17MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the 6 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Plaintiff's Complaint. Defendant indicates that their caseload has "approached or surpassed all-time monthly highs," causing delays such that "the undersigned learned just earlier today that the Department's Federal Programs Branch will be handling the defense." Defendant explains that "[t]o provide adequate time for a trial attorney in that component to discuss this matter with the relevant agency and formulate Defendant's response to Plaintiff's Complaint, the undersigned seeks this extension." This is Defendant's first request for an extension of time in this matter and Plaintiff consents. The Court GRANTS the 6 Motion and ORDERS that Defendant shall file a response to Plaintiff's complaint by no later than DECEMBER 21, 2022. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 11/17/22. (lcckk3) (Entered: 11/17/2022)
2022-11-17Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant shall file a response to Plaintiff's complaint by no later than 12/21/2022. (dot) (Entered: 11/18/2022)
2022-12-217NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew James Rising on behalf of All Defendants (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 12/21/2022)
2022-12-218ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 12/21/2022)
2022-12-219ORDER regarding Meet and Confer and Joint Status Report, proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter, due by no later than FEBRUARY 8, 2023.. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 12/21/22. (lcckk3) (Entered: 12/21/2022)
2022-12-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report, proposing a schedule for proceeding in this matter, due by no later than 2/8/2023.(dot) (Entered: 01/03/2023)
2023-02-0810Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 02/08/2023)
2023-02-08MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the 10 Joint Status Report, in which the parties indicate that the United States Secret Service is conducting a supplemental search for records responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request and anticipates being able to complete a supplemental search for records by March 31, 2023, at which time they will provide Plaintiff with an estimate of any potentially responsive records and discuss processing timelines for such records. Accordingly, per the parties' request, the Court ORDERS the parties to file a joint Status Report by APRIL 7, 2023 updating the Court on the status of this case. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 2/8/23. (lcckk3) (Entered: 02/08/2023)
2023-02-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/7/2023 updating the Court on the status of this case. (dot) (Entered: 02/09/2023)
2023-04-0711Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 04/07/2023)
2023-04-10MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the 11 Joint Status Report, in which the parties indicate that they "have conferred regarding the status of the ongoing search and responsiveness review, and once this preliminary review is complete USSS will be able to begin processing any responsive records, including sending any responsive records out for consultation and referral." Per the parties' suggestion, the Court ORDERS the parties to file a Joint Status Report on JUNE 2, 2023 and every sixty (60) days thereafter updating the Court on the status of this case. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 4/10/23. (lcckk3) (Entered: 04/10/2023)
2023-04-10Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/2/2023 and every sixty (60) days thereafter updating the Court on the status of this case. (dot) (Entered: 04/10/2023)
2023-06-0212NOTICE of Appearance by Paul J. Orfanedes on behalf of JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 06/02/2023)
2023-06-0213Joint STATUS REPORT by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 06/02/2023)
2023-08-0114Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 08/01/2023)
2023-09-2915Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 09/29/2023)
2023-12-0116Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 12/01/2023)
2024-01-3017Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Rising, Andrew) (Entered: 01/30/2024)
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