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Case TitleAMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv01049
Date Filed2023-04-14
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffAMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionAmerica First Legal Foundation submitted three FOIA requests to the Department of Justice for records. Its first request asked for records concerning the backgrounds of individuals hired by DOJ. The second request asked for records of the calendar of Lucas Guttentag over a period of time. The third request asked for records of the calendar of Margaret O'Herron over a period of time. The agency acknowledged the receipt of all three requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, AFL filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
Complaint attachment 10
Complaint attachment 11
Complaint attachment 12
Complaint attachment 13
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-04-141COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10000562) filed by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Civil Cover Sheet, # 12 Summons, # 13 Summons)(Meckler, Jacob) (Entered: 04/14/2023)
2023-04-17Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zljn) (Entered: 04/17/2023)
2023-04-172SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsl) (Entered: 04/17/2023)
2023-04-173NOTICE of Appearance by Michael Ding on behalf of AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION (Ding, Michael) (Entered: 04/17/2023)
2023-05-024STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 2, 2023. (lccjn3) (Entered: 05/02/2023)
2023-05-085RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/24/2023. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/24/2023. (Meckler, Jacob) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-086RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 05/04/2023. (Meckler, Jacob) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-177NOTICE of Appearance by Stephanie R. Johnson on behalf of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
2023-05-188Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 05/18/2023)
2023-05-24MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 8 Consent Motion for Extension, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. The government shall file its response to the Complaint on or before June 23, 2023. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 24, 2023. (lccjn3) (Entered: 05/24/2023)
2023-06-239ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 06/23/2023)
2023-07-07MINUTE ORDER. Before the Court in this Freedom of Information Act case are a Complaint and an Answer. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 16.3, the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) are inapplicable. It is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before July 17, 2023. The Joint Status Report shall address: (1) the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request; (2) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request; (3) the anticipated dates for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff; (4) whether a motion for stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976); (5) the possibility of prioritizing documents responsive to Plaintiff's request and any discussions regarding whether Plaintiff's request can be narrowed; and (6) whether the Parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on July 7, 2023. (lccjn3) (Entered: 07/07/2023)
2023-07-1010AMENDED COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE filed by AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit)(Meckler, Jacob) (Entered: 07/10/2023)
2023-07-1711Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 07/17/2023)
2023-07-2412ANSWER to 10 Amended Complaint, by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 07/24/2023)
2023-07-27MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file their next joint status report on August 31, 2023, and every 45 days thereafter. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on July 27, 2023. (lccjn3) (Entered: 07/27/2023)
2023-08-3113Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/31/2023)
2023-10-1614Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 10/16/2023)
2023-10-1715ERRATA re 14 REGARDING JOINT STATUS REPORT (ECF NO. 14) by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) Modified to add link on 10/23/2023 (znmw). (Entered: 10/17/2023)
2023-11-3016Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 11/30/2023)
2024-01-1217Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 01/12/2024)
2024-02-2218Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Johnson, Stephanie) (Entered: 02/22/2024)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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