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Case TitleCENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv00011
Date Filed2023-01-04
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Royce C. Lamberth
PlaintiffCENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Case DescriptionThe Center for Biological Diversity submitted a FOIA request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for records concerning the agency's transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and asked CBD to clarify portions of its request. CBD clarified the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, CBD filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantFEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
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

2023-01-041COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9764267) filed by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons FEMA Summons, # 3 Summons DHS Summons, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney Summons, # 5 Summons U.S. Attorney General Summons)(Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 01/04/2023)
2023-01-042LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 01/04/2023)
2023-01-04Case Assigned to Judge Royce C. Lamberth. (zljn) (Entered: 01/04/2023)
2023-01-043SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zljn) (Entered: 01/04/2023)
2023-01-044MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Augusta C.F. Wilson, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-9766158. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 01/04/2023)
2023-01-055ORDER granting 4 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: It is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions . Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 01/05/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 01/05/2023)
2023-01-276NOTICE of Appearance by Augusta Wilson on behalf of CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Wilson, Augusta) (Entered: 01/27/2023)
2023-01-307RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 1/19/2023. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 2/18/2023. (Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-01-308RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 1/19/23. (Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-01-309RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY served on 1/18/2023 (Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-01-3010RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 1/18/2023 (Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 01/30/2023)
2023-02-0611NOTICE of Appearance by Thomas Anthony Quinn on behalf of All Defendants (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 02/06/2023)
2023-02-2112ANSWER to Complaint by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.(Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 02/21/2023)
2023-03-0113ORDER: The government is hereby ORDERED to file a Vaughn index and supporting dispositive motion within 30 days. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 02/28/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 03/01/2023)
2023-03-2314Joint MOTION to Vacate the Order for Dispositive Motion and Joint Status Report, by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Quinn, Thomas) (Entered: 03/23/2023)
2023-03-2315STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (See Docket Entry 14 to view document). (znmw) (Entered: 03/23/2023)
2023-03-2416ORDER granting Motion 14 to Vacate Order: It is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED and that the parties shall file a joint status report by 05/23/2023. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 03/24/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 03/24/2023)
2023-05-0917NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by B. Kathryn Debrason on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Substituting for attorney T. Anthony Quinn (Debrason, B. Kathryn) (Entered: 05/09/2023)
2023-05-2318Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Truong, John) (Entered: 05/23/2023)
2023-05-2619ORDER modifying Order 13 for Dispositive Motions: Joint Status Report due by 07/24/2023. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 05/25/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 05/26/2023)
2023-07-2420Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Crystal, Howard) (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-07-3121ORDER: In consideration of the most recent Joint Status Report 20 , defendants are ORDERED to produce the spreadsheet referenced therein by 08/072023. Defendants are ORDERED to process at least 500 pages of non-spreadsheet material, and produce all releasable material to plaintiff, on a monthly basis beginning on 09/072023. The parties are ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report on 09/07/2023 and every 30 days thereafter. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 07/28/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 07/31/2023)
2023-09-0722Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Debrason, B.) (Entered: 09/07/2023)
2023-10-0623Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Truong, John) (Entered: 10/06/2023)
2023-10-1824NOTICE of Appearance by Kaitlin Kerry Eckrote on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 10/18/2023)
2023-10-18MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report by 11/06/2023. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 10/16/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 10/18/2023)
2023-11-0625Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 11/06/2023)
2023-11-09MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report by 12/11/2023. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 11/09/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 11/09/2023)
2023-12-1126Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Eckrote, Kaitlin) (Entered: 12/11/2023)
2023-12-11MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report by 01/11/2024. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 12/11/2023. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 12/11/2023)
2024-01-1127Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Debrason, B.) (Entered: 01/11/2024)
2024-02-1228Joint STATUS REPORT and request to file Status Reports at 60-day intervals henceforth, with the next due on April 12, 2024 by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. (Debrason, B.) (Entered: 02/12/2024)
2024-02-16MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report by 04/12/2024. Signed by Judge Royce C. Lamberth on 02/16/2024. (lcrcl3) (Entered: 02/16/2024)
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