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Case TitleWESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT v. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv00283
Date Filed2023-02-01
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffWESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT an Idaho non-profit corporation
Case DescriptionThe Western Watersheds Project submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Interior for records concerning, among other things, Bureau of Land Management internal or restricted instructional manuals. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. After the agency failed to respond on time to its requests, WWP filed administrative appeals and many requests were remanded for processing. After hearing nothing more substantive about its requests, WWP filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantDEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR an agency of the United States of America
DefendantUNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT an Administrative Agency of the United States Department of Interior
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

2023-02-011COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9829070) filed by WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Proposed DOI Summons, # 3 Summons Proposed BLM Summons, # 4 Summons Proposed AG Summons, # 5 Summons Proposed US Atty. Summons)(Bahr, David) (Entered: 02/01/2023)
2023-02-012LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT (Bahr, David) (Entered: 02/01/2023)
2023-02-02Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (zrtw) (Entered: 02/02/2023)
2023-02-023SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrtw) (Entered: 02/02/2023)
2023-02-154NOTICE of Appearance by Megan Backsen on behalf of WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT (Backsen, Megan) (Entered: 02/15/2023)
2023-02-235RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 2/20/2023. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 3/22/2023. (Backsen, Megan) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-02-236RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 2/14/2023. (Backsen, Megan) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-02-237RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR served on 2/13/2023 (Backsen, Megan) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-02-238RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT served on 2/13/2023 (Backsen, Megan) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-03-209NOTICE of Appearance by Brian J. Levy on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-03-2010Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levy, Brian) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-03-20MINUTE ORDER granting Defendants' 10 Motion for am Extension of Time to Respond. Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint by April 21, 2023. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/20/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 03/20/2023)
2023-04-1311Joint MOTION to Stay Proposed Order Deadlines and Establish Production Schedule , Joint MOTION for Disclosure Proposed Order Granting Joint Motion to Stay Deadlines and Establish Production Schedule by WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order Granting Joint Motion to Stay Deadlines and Establish Production Schedule)(Bahr, David) (Entered: 04/13/2023)
2023-04-1712ORDER granting the 11 Joint Motion to Stay Deadlines and Establish Production Schedule. The parties shall file a joint status report by June 21, 2023. See full Order for details. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/17/2023. (lccrc1) (Entered: 04/17/2023)
2023-06-2113Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 06/21/2023)
2023-08-2114Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 08/21/2023)
2023-10-2015Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 10/20/2023)
2023-12-1916Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 12/19/2023)
2024-02-2017Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 02/20/2024)
2024-02-22MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby directed to clarify the dispute concerning Appeal No. 2021-035 in their next joint status report, due April 19, 2024. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/22/2024. (lccrc1) (Entered: 02/22/2024)
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