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Case TitleZACHOR LEGAL INSTITUTE v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv01295
Date Filed2023-05-08
Date Closed2023-09-06
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffZACHOR LEGAL INSTITUTE
Case DescriptionZachor Legal Institute submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Education for records concerning a contract between Qatar Foundation and the redacted entity referenced in a specified report from the Department of Education. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Zachor Legal Institute filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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

2023-05-081COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10053179) filed by ZACHOR LEGAL INSTITUTE. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Education, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-082LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by ZACHOR LEGAL INSTITUTE (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-08Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zrtw) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-083SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zrtw) (Entered: 05/08/2023)
2023-05-154STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on May 15, 2023. (lccjn2) (Entered: 05/15/2023)
2023-05-195RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/10/2023. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/9/2023.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/16/2023., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION served on 5/15/2023 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/19/2023)
2023-06-016NOTICE of Appearance by Marsha Wellknown Yee on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 06/01/2023)
2023-06-087ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.(Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 06/08/2023)
2023-06-16MINUTE 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 12, 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 date(s) 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[s] and any discussions regarding whether Plaintiff's request[s] 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 June 16, 2023. (lccjn2) (Entered: 06/16/2023)
2023-07-128Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 07/12/2023)
2023-07-25MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the 8 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the Parties shall file an additional joint status report on or before August 23, 2023, and every 60 days thereafter until either Party moves for a briefing schedule for dispositive motions, files a dispositive motion, or the case is terminated. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on July 25, 2023. (lccjn2) (Entered: 07/25/2023)
2023-08-239Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Yee, Marsha) (Entered: 08/23/2023)
2023-08-3110STIPULATION of Dismissal with Prejudice by ZACHOR LEGAL INSTITUTE. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 08/31/2023)
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