| Date Filed | Doc # | Docket Text |
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| 2018-04-09 | 1 | COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5410953) filed by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons to EPA, # 3 Summons to Attorney General, # 4 Summons to United States Attorney)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Attachment 1 replaced on 4/9/2018) (jd) (Entered: 04/09/2018) |
| 2018-04-09 | 2 | Corporate Disclosure Statement by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 04/09/2018) |
| 2018-04-09 | | Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (jd) (Entered: 04/10/2018) |
| 2018-04-10 | 3 | SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(jd) (Entered: 04/10/2018) |
| 2018-04-10 | 4 | RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/10/2018. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/10/2018. (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 04/10/2018) |
| 2018-04-10 | 5 | NOTICE of Appearance by Patrick D. Llewellyn on behalf of NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (Llewellyn, Patrick) (Entered: 04/10/2018) |
| 2018-04-16 | 6 | ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 04/16/18. (DM) (Entered: 04/16/2018) |
| 2018-04-25 | 7 | RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 04/16/2018. (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 04/25/2018) |
| 2018-04-25 | 8 | RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY served on 4/13/2018 (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 04/25/2018) |
| 2018-05-09 | 9 | NOTICE of Appearance by Alexander Daniel Shoaibi on behalf of UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (Shoaibi, Alexander) (Entered: 05/09/2018) |
| 2018-05-09 | 10 | ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.(Shoaibi, Alexander) (Entered: 05/09/2018) |
| 2018-05-21 | 11 | ORDER. The parties shall file the schedule not later than JUNE 20, 2018 . Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on May 21, 2018. (lcckk1) (Entered: 05/21/2018) |
| 2018-06-19 | 12 | Joint STATUS REPORT and Proposed Scheduling Order by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order proposed scheduling order)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 06/19/2018) |
| 2018-07-09 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 12 Joint Status Report. As the parties have proposed, Defendant shall complete its search and release at least half of the responsive records to Plaintiff by AUGUST 15, 2018 . Defendant shall release the remainder of responsive records to Plaintiff by SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 . The parties shall file a further Joint Status Report by OCTOBER 15, 2018 , confirming the status of Defendant's production, identifying any remaining issues, and proposing a briefing schedule, if necessary. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 9, 2018. (lcckk1) (Entered: 07/09/2018) |
| 2018-07-09 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/15/2018. (dot) (Entered: 07/11/2018) |
| 2018-07-17 | 13 | NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Daniel Patrick Schaefer on behalf of UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Substituting for attorney Alexander D. Shoaibi (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2018) |
| 2018-10-15 | 14 | Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 10/15/2018) |
| 2018-10-16 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 14 Joint Status Report. Defendant has made several releases of documents to Plaintiff but continues to verify that it has no additional responsive records. Plaintiff is reviewing documents produced thus far. As the parties have proposed, they shall file a further Joint Status Report by NOVEMBER 15, 2018 , confirming the status of Defendant's production, identifying any remaining issues, and proposing a briefing schedule, if necessary. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on October 16, 2018. (lcckk1) (Entered: 10/16/2018) |
| 2018-10-16 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/15/2018, confirming the status of Defendant's production, identifying any remaining issues, and proposing a briefing schedule, if necessary. (dot) (Entered: 10/17/2018) |
| 2018-11-15 | 15 | Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 11/15/2018) |
| 2018-11-28 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 15 Joint Status Report. Defendant has issued a final response to Plaintiff's Freedom of Information Act request, and the parties have been collaborating since then to narrow, or resolve, remaining issues. The parties shall file a further Joint Status Report by no later than DECEMBER 18, 2018 , proposing a schedule for further proceedings, including a briefing schedule, if necessary. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on November 28, 2018. (lcckk1) (Entered: 11/28/2018) |
| 2018-11-28 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/18/2018, proposing a schedule for further proceedings, including a briefing schedule, if necessary. (dot) (Entered: 11/29/2018) |
| 2018-12-18 | 16 | Joint STATUS REPORT by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 12/18/2018) |
| 2018-12-21 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, in which the parties make divergent proposals for the next steps in this litigation. Nevertheless, the Report, including its exhibits, suggests that the parties were working collaboratively until their latest impasse to narrow, or resolve, remaining issues. Because Defendant has offered to conduct a supplemental search to address at least part of Plaintiff's remaining issues, setting a briefing schedule at this time would not be the most efficient manner of resolving this case. Moreover, there is no indication in the Complaint that Plaintiff sought expedited review of its underlying Freedom of Information Act request. Accordingly, the Court shall decline to establish a schedule for the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment until after Defendant's supplemental searches and any further records processing is completed. By JANUARY 11, 2019 , Defendant shall conduct the supplemental search that Plaintiff requested, and which Defendant agreed to conduct. Upon completion of that supplemental search, the parties are directed to further confer on a processing schedule for any additional records that are located, and to propose a schedule for any further processing or, alternatively, a proposed briefing schedule, by JANUARY 22, 2019 . Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on December 21, 2018. (lcckk1) (Entered: 12/21/2018) |
| 2019-01-09 | 17 | MOTION to Stay in Light of Lapse in Appropriations by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 01/09/2019) |
| 2019-01-09 | 18 | Memorandum in opposition to re 17 MOTION to Stay in Light of Lapse in Appropriations filed by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 01/09/2019) |
| 2019-01-10 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received Defendant's 17 Motion to Stay Proceedings in Light of Lapse in Appropriations, as well as Plaintiff's 18 Partial Opposition thereto. While Defendant requests, and Plaintiff consents to, a stay during the lapse of appropriations to the U.S. Department of Justice, Plaintiff disagrees with Defendant's proposal that deadlines be extended commensurate with the ultimate length of the stay. The Court agrees with Plaintiff that the length of the deadlines, once they are reestablished, should be consistent with the Court's Minute Order of December 21, 2018. Accordingly, in an exercise of the Court's discretion, the Court shall GRANT-in-PART and DENY-in-PART Defendant's 17 Motion. The Court shall STAY the deadline for the supplemental search otherwise required by January 11, 2019, as well as the subsequent deadline for a processing schedule or briefing schedule otherwise due by January 22, 2019. Upon restoration of the U.S. Department of Justice's funding and the resumption of its operations, Defendant shall have three weeks to perform the supplemental search that Plaintiff requested, and which Defendant agreed to conduct. Upon completion of that supplemental search, the parties are directed to further confer on a processing schedule for any additional records that are located, and to propose a schedule for any further processing or, alternatively, a proposed briefing schedule, within ten calendar days. The parties shall file a notice within five business days of the restoration of the U.S. Department of Justice's funding and the resumption of its operations. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on January 10, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 01/10/2019) |
| 2019-01-28 | 19 | NOTICE of Restored Government Funding by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 01/28/2019) |
| 2019-01-29 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received Defendant's 19 Notice of Restored Government Funding. Accordingly, the Court hereby LIFTS the stay in this matter. Pursuant to the Court's Minute Order of January 10, 2019, Defendant shall complete the supplemental search that Plaintiff requested, and which Defendant agreed to conduct, by FEBRUARY 15, 2019 . Thereafter, the parties shall confer on a processing schedule for any additional records that are located, and shall propose a schedule for any further processing or, alternatively, a proposed briefing schedule, by FEBRUARY 25, 2019 . Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on January 29, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 01/29/2019) |
| 2019-01-29 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed schedule due by 2/25/2019. (dot) (Entered: 01/29/2019) |
| 2019-02-25 | 20 | Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 02/25/2019) |
| 2019-02-27 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 20 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant has completed the supplemental search discussed in the Court's Minute Order of December 21, 2018. The Court adopts the parties' proposal that Defendant complete its review of the additional records it located in its supplemental search and issue a final response to Plaintiff by MARCH 25, 2019 . The parties shall file a Joint Status Report by APRIL 15, 2019 , identifying any remaining issues and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on February 27, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 02/27/2019) |
| 2019-02-27 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/15/2019, identifying any remaining issues and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. (dot) (Entered: 02/28/2019) |
| 2019-04-15 | 21 | Joint STATUS REPORT by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 04/15/2019) |
| 2019-04-17 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 21 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant issued a final response as to the supplemental search discussed in the Court's Minute Order of December 21, 2018. The parties agree that the preparation of a draft Vaughn index and supporting declaration is the next step in this case, but the parties propose differing timelines for that production. Defendant appears to have good reason for its proposed timeline. Moreover, there is no indication that Plaintiff sought expedited review of the underlying FOIA request. Accordingly, the Court shall adopt Defendant's proposal. Defendant shall produce a draft Vaughn index and supporting declaration to Plaintiff addressing the two outstanding issues still in dispute in this case, i.e. , the basis for Defendant's withholdings under FOIA Exemption 5 and the sufficiency of its search, by no later than JUNE 7, 2019 . The parties shall submit a further Joint Status Report by no later than JUNE 21, 2019 , identifying any remaining issues and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on April 17, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 04/17/2019) |
| 2019-04-17 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/21/2019. (dot) (Entered: 04/18/2019) |
| 2019-06-20 | 22 | Joint STATUS REPORT by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 06/20/2019) |
| 2019-06-24 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant has made a supplemental production and has produced a draft Vaughn index. As a result of the parties' discussions, Defendant agreed to make a further supplemental production and to supplement the draft Vaughn index. The Court shall adopt the parties' proposal that they submit a further Joint Status Report by JULY 19, 2019 , identifying any remaining issues and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on June 24, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 06/24/2019) |
| 2019-06-24 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/19/2019, identifying any remaining issues and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. (dot) (Entered: 06/24/2019) |
| 2019-07-19 | 23 | Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 07/19/2019) |
| 2019-07-29 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 23 Joint Status Report, which indicates that the parties continue to narrow the scope of their remaining disputes. The Court shall adopt the parties' proposal that they submit a further Joint Status Report by AUGUST 7, 2019 , identifying any lingering issues and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 29, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 07/29/2019) |
| 2019-07-29 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/7/2019, identifying any lingering issues and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. (dot) (Entered: 07/30/2019) |
| 2019-08-07 | 24 | Joint STATUS REPORT and Proposed Briefing Schedule by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 08/07/2019) |
| 2019-08-09 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 24 Joint Status Report, which indicates that a number of issues have been resolved. "The parties are continuing to confer to determine whether their outstanding dispute concerning the release of the names of the [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] employees [in a single document] can be resolved without the Court's involvement...." Although the parties propose that the Court presently set a briefing schedule for cross-motions for summary judgment, the Court finds that it is premature to do so before the parties' discussions about this issue have concluded. By no later than AUGUST 23, 2019 , the parties shall file a further Joint Status Report indicating whether they have resolved the remaining issue and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on August 9, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 08/09/2019) |
| 2019-08-09 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/23/2019, indicating whether they have resolved the remaining issue and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. (dot) (Entered: 08/09/2019) |
| 2019-08-23 | 25 | Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Schaefer, Daniel) (Entered: 08/23/2019) |
| 2019-08-27 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 25 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant is "still considering the [remaining] issue" and requires "one additional week to make a final determination." The Court shall adopt the parties' proposal that they submit a further Joint Status Report by SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 , indicating whether the parties have resolved the remaining issue and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on August 27, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 08/27/2019) |
| 2019-08-27 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/5/2019, indicating whether the parties have resolved the remaining issue and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings. (dot) (Entered: 08/27/2019) |
| 2019-09-05 | 26 | Joint STATUS REPORT by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 09/05/2019) |
| 2019-09-09 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 26 Joint Status Report, which indicates that they have resolved all merits issues and hope to resolve attorney's fees and costs without further litigation. Accordingly, the Court adopts the parties' proposal that they submit a further joint status report by NOVEMBER 4, 2019, concerning their efforts to resolve attorney's fees and costs. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on September 9, 2019. (lcckk1) (Entered: 09/09/2019) |
| 2019-09-09 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/4/2019, concerning their efforts to resolve attorney's fees and costs. (dot) (Entered: 09/10/2019) |
| 2019-11-04 | 27 | Joint STATUS REPORT by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 11/04/2019) |
| 2019-11-05 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 27 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Defendant responded to Plaintiff's fee demand on November 1, 2019, and that Plaintiff is reviewing Defendant's response. The Report further explains that the parties have agreed to negotiate in an attempt to resolve the issues by agreement. Accordingly, the Court adopts the parties' proposal that they submit a further joint status report concerning the negotiations and setting forth any proposed briefing schedule by DECEMBER 4, 2019 , if a stipulation of dismissal has not been filed by that date. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on November 5, 2019. (lccck1) (Entered: 11/05/2019) |
| 2019-11-05 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/4/2019, if a stipulation of dismissal has not been filed by that date. (dot) (Entered: 11/06/2019) |
| 2019-12-04 | 28 | Joint STATUS REPORT by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 12/04/2019) |
| 2019-12-06 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 28 Joint Status Report, which indicates that Plaintiff responded to Defendant's response to Plaintiff's fee demand on November 7, that Defendant responded on November 26, and that Plaintiff further responded on November 30. The Report further explains that the parties would like to negotiate for at least one additional round before setting a briefing schedule. Accordingly, the Court adopts the parties' proposal that they submit a further joint status report concerning the negotiations and setting forth any proposed briefing schedule no later than DECEMBER 20, 2019 , if a stipulation of dismissal has not been filed by that date. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on December 6, 2019. (lccck1) (Entered: 12/06/2019) |
| 2019-12-06 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/20/2019, if a stipulation of dismissal has not been filed by that date. (dot) (Entered: 12/10/2019) |
| 2019-12-19 | 29 | Joint STATUS REPORT and Proposed Briefing Schedule by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 12/19/2019) |
| 2019-12-20 | | MINUTE ORDER: The Court has received the parties' 29 Joint Status Report and Proposed Briefing Schedule. The parties indicate that a substantial difference in positions remains regarding attorneys' fees and costs and they therefore propose a briefing schedule. Accordingly, the Court adopts the proposed briefing schedule. Plaintiff shall file its motion for attorneys' fees and costs no later than FEBRUARY 7, 2020 ; Defendant shall file its response, if any, no later than MARCH 6, 2020 ; and Plaintiff shall file its Reply, if any, no later than MARCH 20, 2020 . Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on December 20, 2019. (lccck1) (Entered: 12/20/2019) |
| 2019-12-20 | | Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Cost due by 2/7/2020. Response due by 3/6/2020. Reply due by 3/20/2020. (dot) (Entered: 12/20/2019) |
| 2020-01-14 | 30 | NOTICE of Acceptance with Offer of Judgment by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Offer of Judgment, # 2 Exhibit Notice of Acceptance of Offer of Judgment)(Kirkpatrick, Michael) (Entered: 01/14/2020) |
| 2020-02-11 | 31 | CLERK'S JUDGMENT ON OFFER OF JUDGMENT for NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL against U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (dot) (Entered: 02/12/2020) |
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