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Case TitleKHATCHADOURIAN v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv03522
Date Filed2023-11-24
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Tanya S. Chutkan
PlaintiffRAFFI KHATCHADOURIAN
Case DescriptionRaffi Khatchadourian, a writer for the New Yorker, submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of State. The first request asked for records concerning nine interagency reports drafted by the U.S. delegation to the International Whaling Commission between 1976 and 1982. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After the State Department told him that the estimated date for completion of his request was April 2025, Khatchadourian contacted the Office of Government Information Services for assistance. While OGIS reached out to State to see if it could resolve the problem, no further progress was made. The second request asked for records on two whaling ships that were operating in 1970s. The agency acknowledged receipt of that request but after hearing nothing further about either request, Khatchadourian filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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

2023-11-241COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10515794) filed by RAFFI KHATCHADOURIAN. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Gutman, Jeffrey) (Attachment 1 replaced on 11/28/2023) (zcb). (Entered: 11/24/2023)
2023-11-29Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zcb) (Entered: 11/29/2023)
2023-11-292SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zcb) (Entered: 11/29/2023)
2023-12-223RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 12/11/2023 (Gutman, Jeffrey) (Main Document 3 replaced on 12/27/2023) (zjm). (Entered: 12/22/2023)
2023-12-224RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 12/22/2023. (Gutman, Jeffrey) (Entered: 12/22/2023)
2023-12-225RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/30/2023. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/30/2023. (Gutman, Jeffrey) (Main Document 5 replaced on 12/27/2023) (zjm). (Entered: 12/22/2023)
2023-12-286Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Anna) (Entered: 12/28/2023)
2023-12-28MINUTE ORDER: GRANTING 6 Consent Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant's answer to the Complaint is due 1/24/2024. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 12/28/2023. (lca) (Entered: 12/28/2023)
2024-01-247ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Walker, Anna) (Entered: 01/24/2024)
2024-01-25MINUTE 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 requests, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA requests, 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 3/7/2024. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 1/25/2024. (lca) (Entered: 01/25/2024)
2024-01-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/7/2024. (zcll) (Entered: 01/25/2024)
2024-02-048MOTION for Leave to Appear Law Student Certification by RAFFI KHATCHADOURIAN. (Gutman, Jeffrey) (Entered: 02/04/2024)
2024-02-05MINUTE ORDER: Denying without prejudice 8 Motion for Leave to Appear. The motion does not specify whether the student applicant is enrolled for credit in a law school clinical program which has been certified by this Court. See LCvR 83.4(b)(1)(iv). Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 2/5/2024. (lca) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
2024-02-059MOTION for Leave to Appear Law Student Certification by RAFFI KHATCHADOURIAN. (Gutman, Jeffrey) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
2024-02-05MINUTE ORDER: Granting 9 Motion for Certified Student Appearance. It is hereby ORDERED that Stephanie Camhi be certified as a law student pursuant to Local Rule 83.4 and permitted to appear in this case on behalf of Plaintiff. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 2/5/2024. (lca) (Entered: 02/05/2024)
2024-03-0710Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to file Joint Status Report by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Anna) (Entered: 03/07/2024)
2024-03-08MINUTE ORDER: GRANTING Defendant's 10 Consent Motion for Extention of Time. The parties' joint status report is due 3/8/2024. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 3/8/2024. (lca) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-0811Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Plaintiff's Proposed Order, # 2 Defendant's Proposed Order)(Walker, Anna) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-03-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/8/2024 (lsj) (Entered: 03/11/2024)
2024-03-11MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, the parties shall file another Joint Status Report by April 17, 2024 updating the court as to the status of Plaintiff's FOIA requests. The report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 3/11/2024. (lca) (Entered: 03/11/2024)
2024-03-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/17/2024 (lsj) (Entered: 03/11/2024)
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