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Case TitleEnvironmental Defense Center et al v. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration et al
DistrictCentral District of California
CityWestern Division - Los Angeles
Case Number2:2015cv09433
Date Filed2015-12-07
Date Closed2017-03-10
JudgeJudge Dean D. Pregerson
PlaintiffEnvironmental Defense Center a California non-profit corporation
PlaintiffSanta Barbara Channelkeeper a California non-profit corporation
Case DescriptionThe Environmental Defense Center and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper submitted two FOIA requests to the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, a component of the Department of Transportation, for records concerning the oversight of several pipelines by the agency. The organizations asked for a fee waiver as well. The agency acknowledged receipt of both requests, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the organizations filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
DefendantOffice of Pipeline Safety
DefendantU.S. Department of Transportation
Documents
Docket
Complaint
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2015-12-071COMPLAINT Receipt No: 0973-16896410 - Fee: $400, filed by plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. (Attorney Brian Segee added to party Environmental Defense Center(pty:pla), Attorney Brian Segee added to party Santa Barbara Channelkeeper(pty:pla))(Segee, Brian) (Entered: 12/07/2015)
2015-12-072CIVIL COVER SHEET filed by Plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. (Segee, Brian) (Entered: 12/07/2015)
2015-12-073Request for Clerk to Issue Summons on Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening), 1 filed by plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. (Segee, Brian) (Entered: 12/07/2015)
2015-12-074NOTICE of Interested Parties filed by plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, identifying N/A. (Segee, Brian) (Entered: 12/07/2015)
2015-12-075CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT filed by Plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper identifying N/A as Corporate Parent. (Segee, Brian) (Entered: 12/07/2015)
2015-12-086NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT to District Judge Dean D. Pregerson and Magistrate Judge John E. McDermott. (ghap) (Entered: 12/08/2015)
2015-12-087NOTICE TO PARTIES OF COURT-DIRECTED ADR PROGRAM filed. (ghap) (Entered: 12/08/2015)
2015-12-08830 DAY Summons Issued re Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening), 1 as to Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. (ghap) (Entered: 12/08/2015)
2015-12-219MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge Dean D. Pregerson: This action has been assigned to the calendar of Judge Dean D Pregerson. Counsel are referred to the courts website for additional information. (SEE DOCUMENT FOR SPECIFIC FILING REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS). (lc) (Entered: 12/21/2015)
2016-01-0510PROOF OF SERVICE Executed by Plaintiff Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, upon Defendant All Defendants. Service of the Summons and Complaint were executed upon the United States Attorneys Office by delivering a copy to Genoveva Ortega, Clerk. Service was executed in compliance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Due diligence declaration NOT attached. Registered or certified mail return receipt attached. Original Summons NOT returned. (Attachments: # 1 Certified mail receipts, # 2 Proof of service by hand delivery to U.S. Attorney)(Segee, Brian) (Entered: 01/05/2016)
2016-01-1911Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Cameron R E Goodman counsel for Plaintiff Environmental Defense Center. Adding Cameron Goodman as counsel of record for Environmental Defense Center; Santa Barbara Channelkeeper for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Plaintiff Environmental Defense Center. (Attorney Cameron R E Goodman added to party Environmental Defense Center(pty:pla))(Goodman, Cameron) (Entered: 01/19/2016)
2016-01-2212Joint STIPULATION Extending Time to Answer the complaint as to All Defendants, re Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening), 1 filed by Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.(Attorney Matthew P Lane added to party Office of Pipeline Safety(pty:dft), Attorney Matthew P Lane added to party Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration(pty:dft), Attorney Matthew P Lane added to party U.S. Department of Transportation (pty:dft))(Lane, Matthew) (Entered: 01/22/2016)
2016-02-2613STIPULATION Extending Time to Answer the complaint as to Office of Pipeline Safety answer now due 3/27/2016; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration answer now due 3/27/2016; U.S. Department of Transportation answer now due 3/27/2016, filed by Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; U.S. Department of Transportation. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Lane, Matthew) (Entered: 02/26/2016)
2016-03-0114ORDER GRANTING STIPULATION TO EXTEND TIME TO RESPOND TO COMPLAINT BY 30 DAYS 13 by Judge Dean D. Pregerson: Defendants Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, and United States Department of Transportation shall have through and until March 27, 2016 to answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiffs Complaint. (lc) (Entered: 03/01/2016)
2016-03-2515ANSWER to Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening), 1 filed by Federal Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.(Lane, Matthew) (Entered: 03/25/2016)
2016-04-1916Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Cameron R E Goodman counsel for Plaintiff Environmental Defense Center. Cameron R.E. Goodman is no longer counsel of record for the aforementioned party in this case for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Plaintiff Environmental Defense Center. (Goodman, Cameron) (Entered: 04/19/2016)
2016-05-1717First NOTICE of Appearance filed by attorney Margaret Morgan Hall on behalf of Plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (Attorney Margaret Morgan Hall added to party Environmental Defense Center(pty:pla), Attorney Margaret Morgan Hall added to party Santa Barbara Channelkeeper(pty:pla))(Hall, Margaret) (Entered: 05/17/2016)
2016-06-1318ORDER setting Scheduling Conference for 8/1/16 3:30 PM; compliance with FRCP 26(f) and filing of Rule 26(f) Report by Judge Dean D. Pregerson (lc) (Entered: 06/14/2016)
2016-07-2519JOINT REPORT Rule 26(f) Discovery Plan ; estimated length of trial N/A, filed by Plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.. (Segee, Brian) (Entered: 07/25/2016)
2016-08-0120MINUTES OF STATUS RE SCHEDULING CONFERENCE held before Judge Dean D. Pregerson. Court and counsel confer re case status. Motion cut off: 12-14-16. A further scheduling conference is set for March 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Parties are ordered to follow the other agreed upon dates. Court Reporter: None Present. (lom) (Entered: 08/03/2016)
2016-10-2121Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Matthew P Lane counsel for Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Adding Joanne S. Osinoff as counsel of record for Defendants for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendants PHMSA et al.. (Lane, Matthew) (STRICKEN PER 10/15/16 COURT'S G112B) Modified on 10/25/2016 (lc). (Entered: 10/21/2016)
2016-10-2122Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Matthew P Lane counsel for Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Matthew P. Lane is no longer counsel of record for the aforementioned party in this case for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendants PHMSA et al.. (Lane, Matthew) STRICKEN PER 10/15/16 COURT'S G112BModified on 10/25/2016 (lc). (Entered: 10/21/2016)
2016-10-2423NOTICE TO FILER OF DEFICIENCIES in Electronically Filed Documents RE: Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel (G-123) 21 , Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel (G-123) 22 . The following error(s) was found: The name of the defendant(s) representing should be the same as it appears in the case. In response to this notice the court may order (1) an amended or correct document to be filed (2) the document stricken or (3) take other action as the court deems appropriate. You need not take any action in response to this notice unless and until the court directs you to do so. (lom) (Entered: 10/24/2016)
2016-10-2524RESPONSE BY THE COURT TO NOTICE TO FILER OF DEFICIENCIES IN ELECTRONICALLY FILED DOCUMENTS by Clerk of Court. The document is stricken and counsel is ordered to file an amended or corrected document. (lc) (Entered: 10/25/2016)
2016-10-3125NOTICE TO PARTIES by District Judge Dean D. Pregerson. Effective November 7, 2016, Judge Pregerson will be located at the 1st Street Courthouse, COURTROOM 9C on the 9th floor, located at 350 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90012. All Court appearances shall be made in Courtroom 9C of the 1st Street Courthouse, and all mandatory chambers copies shall be hand delivered to the judge's mail box outside the Clerk's Office on the 4th floor of the 1st Street Courthouse. The location for filing civil documents in paper format exempted from electronic filing and for viewing case files and other records services remains at the United States Courthouse, 312 North Spring Street, Room G-8, Los Angeles, California 90012. The location for filing criminal documents in paper format exempted from electronic filing remains at Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 255 East Temple Street, Room 178, Los Angeles, California 90012. THERE IS NO PDF DOCUMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ENTRY. (rrp) TEXT ONLY ENTRY (Entered: 10/31/2016)
2016-11-1026Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Alarice M Medrano counsel for Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Adding Alarice M. Medrano as counsel of record for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendants Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, U.S. Department of Transporation. (Attorney Alarice M Medrano added to party Office of Pipeline Safety(pty:dft), Attorney Alarice M Medrano added to party Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration(pty:dft), Attorney Alarice M Medrano added to party U.S. Department of Transportation (pty:dft))(Medrano, Alarice) (Entered: 11/10/2016)
2016-11-1027Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Alarice M Medrano counsel for Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Matthew P. Lane is no longer counsel of record for the aforementioned party in this case for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendants Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation. (Medrano, Alarice) (Entered: 11/10/2016)
2016-11-1428STIPULATION to Continue THE MOTION CUT-OFF DATE AND RELATED SUMMARY JUDGMENT DEADLINES BY APPROXIMATELY SIXTY DAYS from 11/14/2016 to 01/16/2017 filed by Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Medrano, Alarice) (Entered: 11/14/2016)
2016-11-1529ORDER CONTINUING THE MOTION CUT-OFF DATE AND RELATED SUMMARY JUDGMENTDEADLINES 28 by Judge Dean D. Pregerson: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs shall identify any concerns with defendants FOIA responses and confer with defendants on or before December 14, 2016. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion cut-off date is continued to January 16, 2017, and the remaining deadlines for summary judgment briefing are continued as follows:Defendants shall file their Motion for Summary Judgment and Vaughn Index onor before January 16, 2017. Plaintiffs shall file their Response and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment on or before February 14, 2017. Defendants shall file a Response and Reply on or before March 13, 2017. Plaintiffs shall file any Reply on or before April 3, 2017. (vv) (Entered: 11/15/2016)
2016-11-1730Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Brian Segee counsel for Plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Brian Segee is no longer counsel of record for the aforementioned party in this case for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center; Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. (Segee, Brian) (Entered: 11/17/2016)
2016-11-2331Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Alicia Irene Roessler counsel for Plaintiff Environmental Defense Center. Adding Alicia I. Roessler as counsel of record for Environmental Defense Center for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by plaintiff Environmental Defense Center. (Attorney Alicia Irene Roessler added to party Environmental Defense Center(pty:pla))(Roessler, Alicia) (Entered: 11/23/2016)
2017-01-1032STIPULATION for Order FURTHER CONTINUING THE MOTION CUT-OFF DATE AND RELATED SUMMARY JUDGMENT DEADLINES filed by Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Medrano, Alarice) (Entered: 01/10/2017)
2017-01-1133ORDER FURTHER CONTINUING THE MOTION CUT-OFF DATE AND RELATED SUMMARY JUDGMENTDEADLINES 32 by Judge Dean D. Pregerson: Motion cut-off date is continued fromJanuary 16, 2017, to February 15, 2017, and the remaining deadlines for summaryjudgment briefing are continued as follows: Defendants shall file their Motion for Summary Judgment and Vaughn Index on or before February 15, 2017.Plaintiffs shall file their Response and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment onor before March 16, 2017. Defendants shall file a Response and Reply on or before April 12, 2017. Plaintiffs shall file any Reply on or before May 3, 2017. (lc) (Entered: 01/11/2017)
2017-02-0934STIPULATION to Continue THE MOTION CUT-OFF DATE AND RELATED SUMMARY JUDGMENT DEADLINES BY APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DAYS from 02/15/2017 to 03/17/2017 filed by Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Medrano, Alarice) (Entered: 02/09/2017)
2017-02-1335ORDER FURTHER CONTINUING THE MOTION CUT-OFF DATE AND RELATED SUMMARY JUDGMENT DEADLINES 34 by Judge Dean D. Pregerson: Motion cut-off date is continued from February 15, 2017, to March 17, 2017, and the remaining deadlines for summary judgment briefing are continued as follows: Defendants shall file their Motion for Summary Judgment and Vaughn Index on or before March 17, 2017.Plaintiffs shall file their Response and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment on or before April 17, 2017. Defendants shall file a Response and Reply on or before May 15, 2017. Plaintiffs shall file any Reply on or before June 2, 2017. (lc) (Entered: 02/13/2017)
2017-02-1436Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Matthew Alexander Smith counsel for Plaintiffs Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Adding Matthew A. Smith as counsel of record for Environmental Defense Center; Santa Barbara Channelkeeper for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Plaintiff Environmental Defense Center; Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. (Attorney Matthew Alexander Smith added to party Environmental Defense Center(pty:pla), Attorney Matthew Alexander Smith added to party Santa Barbara Channelkeeper(pty:pla))(Smith, Matthew) (Entered: 02/14/2017)
2017-03-0837SCHEDULING NOTICE by Judge Dean D. Pregerson: The Scheduling Conference set for March 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. is advanced to be heard at 10:00 a.m. THERE IS NO PDF DOCUMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ENTRY. (pg) TEXT ONLY ENTRY (Entered: 03/08/2017)
2017-03-1038STIPULATION to Dismiss Case pursuant to F.R.C.P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) filed by Defendants Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.(Medrano, Alarice) (Entered: 03/10/2017)
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