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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2017cv01589
Date Filed2017-08-07
Date Closed2018-08-20
JudgeJudge Amit P. Mehta
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System for records concerning the authorization permitting the Brentwood School to use a route through the VAGLAHS campus for hauling debris in connection with a construction project at the school. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
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

2017-08-071COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5064083) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Attorney, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons Dept. of Veterans Affairs)(Burke, Lauren) (Entered: 08/07/2017)
2017-08-072LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Burke, Lauren) (Entered: 08/07/2017)
2017-08-08Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zsb) (Entered: 08/08/2017)
2017-08-083SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Consent Form)(zsb) (Entered: 08/08/2017)
2017-08-164RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/14/2017. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/13/2017.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 8/14/2017., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS served on 8/14/2017 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Burke, Lauren) (Entered: 08/16/2017)
2017-09-135Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 09/13/2017)
2017-09-14MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 5 Consent Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant shall file its responsive pleading on or before September 27, 2017. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 09/14/2017. (lcapm1) (Entered: 09/14/2017)
2017-09-14Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Responsive pleading due by 9/27/2017. (zcdw) (Entered: 09/15/2017)
2017-09-276MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Reyes Ruiz)(Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 09/27/2017)
2017-09-29MINUTE ORDER: Plaintiff's response to Defendant's 6 Motion for Extension of Time, if any, shall be filed on or before October 4, 2017. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 09/29/2017. (lcapm1) (Entered: 09/29/2017)
2017-09-29Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Response to 6 due by 10/4/2017. (zcdw) (Entered: 09/29/2017)
2017-10-047Memorandum in opposition to re 6 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Defendant's Answer or Other Response to Plaintiff's Complaint filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Burke, Lauren) (Entered: 10/04/2017)
2017-10-05MINUTE ORDER denying Defendant's 6 Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant's reason for seeking additional time -- troubles with the Department of Veterans Affairs' ("VA") FOIA processing system -- does not establish "good cause" for the requested extension, as Defendant does not explain how the VA's technical troubles affect Defendant's ability to answer Plaintiff's Complaint. Defendant's responsive pleading shall be due no later than October 9, 2017. To the extent the VA's technical troubles prevent Defendant from responding to an allegation in the Complaint, the responsive pleading may indicate as much. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/05/2017. (lcapm1) (Entered: 10/05/2017)
2017-10-05Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Defendant's responsive pleading due by 10/9/2017. (zcdw) (Entered: 10/06/2017)
2017-10-108ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.(Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 10/10/2017)
2017-10-11MINUTE ORDER: Both a Complaint and an Answer are now before the court in this FOIA case. It is hereby ordered that the parties shall meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before October 25, 2017. The Joint Status Report shall include (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); and (5) whether the parties anticipate summary judgment briefing and, if so, a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/11/2017. (lcapm1) (Entered: 10/11/2017)
2017-10-11Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 10/25/2017. (zcdw) (Entered: 10/11/2017)
2017-10-259Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 10/25/2017)
2017-10-26MINUTE ORDER directing the parties to file a Joint Status Report on or before January 15, 2018. Upon receipt of that Report, the court will set a date for an additional status report. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 10/26/2017. (lcapm1) (Entered: 10/26/2017)
2017-10-26Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 1/15/2018. (zcdw) (Entered: 10/27/2017)
2018-01-1610Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File the Parties' Status Report by Defendant by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 01/16/2018)
2018-01-17MINUTE ORDER granting Defendant's 10 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to File the Parties' Status Report. The Joint Status Report shall now be due on or before January 18, 2018. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 01/17/2018. (lcapm1) (Entered: 01/17/2018)
2018-01-17Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 1/18/2018. (zcdw) (Entered: 01/17/2018)
2018-01-1811Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 01/18/2018)
2018-01-2212ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, the Defendant shall continue to make monthly disclosures of records, beginning on or about February 19, 2018; the parties shall file Joint Status Reports regarding the progress of production every 90 days until production is complete, with the first report due on or about April 18, 2018; and the parties shall file another Joint Status Report at the end of production, along with a proposed briefing schedule if necessary. See the attached Order for further details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 01/22/2018. (lcapm1) (Entered: 01/22/2018)
2018-01-22Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Parties' Status Report due by 4/18/2018. (zcdw) (Entered: 01/23/2018)
2018-04-1813Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 04/18/2018)
2018-04-19MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 13 April 18, 2018, Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another Joint Status Report on or before May 18, 2018, that updates the court on their progress and, if necessary, proposes a briefing schedule for summary judgment. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 04/19/2018. (lcapm1) (Entered: 04/19/2018)
2018-04-19Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 5/18/2018. (zcdw) (Entered: 04/24/2018)
2018-05-1814Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (Adebonojo, Kenneth) (Entered: 05/18/2018)
2018-05-2115ORDER entering the briefing schedule proposed in the parties' 14 Joint Status Report. The schedule for further proceedings in this matter is as follows: (1) Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before August 18, 2018; (2) Plaintiff's Opposition and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment shall be due on or before September 17, 2018; (3) Defendant's Reply and Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion shall be due on or before October 9, 2018; and (4) Plaintiff's Reply shall be due on or before October 30, 2018. If the parties reach an agreement on any of the remaining disputed issues, thereby obviating the need for summary judgment briefing, the parties shall promptly notify the court. See the attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 05/21/2018. (lcapm1) (Entered: 05/21/2018)
2018-05-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Summary Judgment Motion due by 8/18/2018. Plaintiff's Opposition and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/17/2018. Defendant's Reply and Opposition to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion due by 10/9/2018. Plaintiff's Reply due by 10/30/2018. (zjd) (Entered: 05/24/2018)
2018-08-2016STIPULATION of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Burke, Lauren) (Entered: 08/20/2018)
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