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Case TitleHERITAGE FOUNDATION et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv00577
Date Filed2023-03-02
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffHERITAGE FOUNDATION
PlaintiffMIKE HOWELL
Case DescriptionThe Heritage Foundation submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning communications concerning the Obama-Biden era classified records from October 25, 2022 to November 16, 2022. The Heritage Foundation also requested a fee waiver and expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the Heritage Foundation filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-03-021COMPLAINT against US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9898371) filed by MIKE HOWELL, HERITAGE FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Exhibit 1, # 6 Exhibit 2)(Dewey, Samuel) (Entered: 03/02/2023)
2023-03-03Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zljn) (Entered: 03/03/2023)
2023-03-032SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zljn) (Entered: 03/03/2023)
2023-04-033NOTICE of Appearance by Kevin Joseph Wynosky on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 04/03/2023)
2023-04-034ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Wynosky, Kevin) (Entered: 04/03/2023)
2023-04-04MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues no later than May 16, 2023. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 04/04/2023. (lcss) (Entered: 04/04/2023)
2023-04-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/16/2023. (tb) (Entered: 04/06/2023)
2023-04-135NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Danielle Wolfson Young on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Kevin Wynosky (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 04/13/2023)
2023-05-156Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-16MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 6 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another Joint Status Report by June 16, 2023, and every 30 days thereafter, advising the court on the status of the matters discussed in the court's April 4, 2023 Minute Order. To the extent that the parties propose a change in deadlines or other court action, the Report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 05/15/2023. (lcss) (Entered: 05/16/2023)
2023-05-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/16/2023. (tb) (Entered: 05/16/2023)
2023-06-167Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 06/16/2023)
2023-07-178Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 07/17/2023)
2023-08-169Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 08/16/2023)
2023-09-1510Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 09/15/2023)
2023-10-1611Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 10/16/2023)
2023-11-1512Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 11/15/2023)
2023-11-1913Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Joint Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Young, Danielle) (Entered: 11/19/2023)
2023-11-20MINUTE ORDER: Granting Defendant's 13 Consent Motion for Extension. The parties' next Joint Status Report is due by December 22, 2023. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 11/20/2023. (lcd) (Entered: 11/20/2023)
2023-11-21Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 12/22/2023. (zcdw) (Entered: 11/21/2023)
2023-12-2214Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 12/22/2023)
2024-01-2215Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Young, Danielle) (Entered: 01/22/2024)
2024-02-0116NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Ross McNeill Slaughter on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Danielle Young (Slaughter, Ross) (Entered: 02/01/2024)
2024-02-2117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Slaughter, Ross) (Entered: 02/21/2024)
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