Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleCENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv01036
Date Filed2023-04-13
Date Closed2023-11-20
JudgeJudge Ana C. Reyes
PlaintiffCENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY
Case DescriptionCenter for Public Integrity submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of Agriculture for records concerning a database of Farm Service Agency various items. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. After hearing nothing further from the agency, the Center for Public Integrity filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
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

2023-04-131COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-9997522) filed by CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USDA, # 3 Summons US Atty, # 4 Summons Atty Gen)(Smith, Peter) (Entered: 04/13/2023)
2023-04-132LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY (Smith, Peter) (Entered: 04/13/2023)
2023-04-13Case Assigned to Judge Ana C. Reyes. (zljn) (Entered: 04/13/2023)
2023-04-133SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zljn) (Entered: 04/13/2023)
2023-04-174RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/14/2023. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/14/2023. (Smith, Peter) (Entered: 04/17/2023)
2023-04-255RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE served on 4/20/2023, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 04/21/2023. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit USPS Tracking - USDA, # 2 Exhibit USPS Tracking - AttyGen)(Smith, Peter) (Entered: 04/25/2023)
2023-05-156NOTICE of Appearance by Fithawi Berhane on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-157ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.(Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-178SCHEDULING ORDER: The Initial Scheduling Conference in this matter is set for June 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 12. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 5/17/2023. (lcsj) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
2023-05-19Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Initial Scheduling Conference set for 6/21/2023 at 10:30 AM in Courtroom 12 before Judge Ana C. Reyes. (zcdw) (Entered: 05/19/2023)
2023-06-20MINUTE ORDER: The initial scheduling conference set for June 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. is hereby CANCELLED. Cases filed under FOIA are exempt from the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) and Local Civil Rule 16.3. See LCvR 16.3(b)(10). Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before July 6, 2023. The Joint Status Report should address, among other things, (1) the status of Plaintiffs FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiffs FOIA request; (3) the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for a stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 6/20/2023. (lcsj) (Entered: 06/20/2023)
2023-06-20Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 7/6/2023. (zcdw) (Entered: 06/20/2023)
2023-07-069Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 07/06/2023)
2023-09-2610STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 09/26/2023)
2023-11-0711STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Berhane, Fithawi) (Entered: 11/07/2023)
2023-11-07MINUTE ORDER: Plaintiff is ORDERED to file a status report or notice of voluntary dismissal on or before November 17, 2023. Failure to comply with this deadline could result in dismissal. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 11/7/2023. (lcsj) (Entered: 11/07/2023)
2023-11-07Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Plaintiff's status report or notice of voluntary dismissal due by 11/17/2023. (zcdw) (Entered: 11/07/2023)
2023-11-1712STIPULATION of Dismissal by CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY. (Smith, Peter) (Entered: 11/17/2023)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar