Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv00967
Date Filed2018-04-25
Date Closed2019-04-09
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
PlaintiffDAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch and the Daily Caller Foundation submitted FOIA requests to the FBI for memoranda summarizing conversations of former FBI Director James Comey with Barack 0bama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and John McCain between September 2013 and May 2017. The agency acknowledged receipt of both requests. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch and the Daily Caller Foundation filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-04-251COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5441344) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Summons US Attorney for DC, # 2 Summons US Atty General, # 3 Summons US Department of Justice)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/25/2018)
2018-04-252CIVIL COVER SHEET by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC..(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/25/2018)
2018-04-253LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/25/2018)
2018-04-254LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION (Bekesha, Michael); Modified on 4/26/2018 to correct filer's name. (tth) (Entered: 04/25/2018)
2018-04-25Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zsth) (Entered: 04/26/2018)
2018-04-265SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsth) (Entered: 04/26/2018)
2018-04-306ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 04/30/18. (DM) (Entered: 04/30/2018)
2018-05-097ENTERED IN ERROR. . . . .RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/7/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/6/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/7/2018., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 5/7/2017 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) Modified on 5/10/2018 (ztd). (Entered: 05/09/2018)
2018-05-10NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: re 7 Summons Returned Executed in FOIA as to U.S. Attorney,,, Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General,,, Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant,, was entered in error and counsel has refiled said pleading in the appropriate case. (td) (Entered: 05/10/2018)
2018-05-108RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/7/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/6/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 05/07/2018., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 5/7/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/10/2018)
2018-05-219NOTICE of Appearance by Johnny Hillary Walker, III on behalf of All Defendants (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 05/21/2018)
2018-06-0510ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-0611ORDER. The parties shall MEET AND CONFER and file a Joint Status Report by no later than JUNE 26, 2018. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 6/6/2018. (lcckk3) (Entered: 06/06/2018)
2018-06-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/26/2018. (kt) (Entered: 06/06/2018)
2018-06-2612Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 06/26/2018)
2018-06-27MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 12 Joint Status Report. The report provides updates on the status of Defendant's search for and review of documents responsive to Plaintiffs' FOIA requests. Defendant has completed some searches and will complete others in the next 30 days. Plaintiffs argue that they "have waited long enough" and request that the Court order Defendant to conclude its review of documents by a particular date and also order Defendant to take certain particular steps in conducting its search. Although Defendants should produce documents on a rolling basis as possible, the Court will not order Defendant to adhere to any particular deadlines at this early stage in the case. Defendant represents that it is diligently processing Plaintiffs' requests and that its search will soon be concluded. The Court will also not make substantive decisions about the adequacy of Defendant's search in response to a Joint Status Report. Plaintiffs will have an opportunity to argue about the adequacy of Defendant's search if dispositive motions are filed at a later stage in this case. The parties shall file a further Joint Status Report by no later than JULY 26, 2018. In that report, the parties shall update the Court on the status of Plaintiffs' FOIA requests and propose a schedule for further proceedings, if unnecessary. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 6/27/2018. (lcckk3) (Entered: 06/27/2018)
2018-06-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/26/2018. (kt) (Entered: 06/27/2018)
2018-06-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/26/2018. (dot) (Entered: 07/02/2018)
2018-07-2613Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 07/26/2018)
2018-07-2714MOTION for Order of Preservation by DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION, JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 07/27/2018)
2018-07-27MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of Plaintiffs' 14 Motion for Preservation Order. Defendant shall file a response to this motion by no later than AUGUST 1, 2018. Plaintiffs shall file a reply by no later than AUGUST 3, 2018. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 27, 2018. (lcckk1) (Entered: 07/27/2018)
2018-07-27Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Response to 14 due by 8/1/2018. Plaintiffs' Reply due by 8/3/2018. (dot) (Entered: 07/30/2018)
2018-08-0115Memorandum in opposition to re 14 MOTION for Order of Preservation filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Michael Seidel)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 08/01/2018)
2018-08-0316REPLY to opposition to motion re 14 MOTION for Order of Preservation filed by DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION, JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 08/03/2018)
2018-08-0617ORDER GRANTING Plaintiffs' 14 Motion for a Preservation Order. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 8/6/2018. (lcckk3) (Entered: 08/06/2018)
2018-08-07MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file a further Joint Status Report by no later than OCTOBER 12, 2018. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 8/7/2018. (lcckk3) (Entered: 08/07/2018)
2018-08-07Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/12/2018. (dot) (Entered: 08/07/2018)
2018-10-1218Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 10/12/2018)
2018-10-12MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 18 Joint Status Report. The parties report that the FBI has completed its review and released responsive, nonexempt records. But, certain records require the FBI to consult with other agencies before deciding whether to release those records. The FBI intends to be finished consulting with other agencies by October 25, 2018 and to complete its final release to Plaintiff by November 1, 2018. The Court ORDERS the parties to file a further Joint Status Report on Defendant's response to Plaintiff's FOIA request by no later than NOVEMBER 19, 2018. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 10-12-2018. (lcckk3) (Entered: 10/12/2018)
2018-10-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report on Defendant's response to Plaintiff's FOIA request due by 11/19/2018. (dot) (Entered: 10/17/2018)
2018-11-1819Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 11/18/2018)
2018-11-19MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report. The parties report that the FBI has completed its review and released all responsive, nonexempt records. But, Plaintiffs dispute the adequacy of the FBI's search and its withholding of information as exempt from release under FOIA. In keeping with the parties' requested briefing schedule, the Court ORDERS Defendant to file a motion for summary judgment by JANUARY 28, 2019 and Plaintiffs to file their opposition and cross-motion by FEBRUARY 25, 2019. The Court further ORDERS Defendant to file its reply and opposition by MARCH 25, 2019 and Plaintiffs to file their reply by APRIL 8, 2019. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 11/19/2018. (lcckk3) (Entered: 11/19/2018)
2018-11-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Summary Judgment motions due by 1/28/2019. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 2/25/2019. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 3/25/2019. Replies due by 4/8/2019. (znbn) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2019-01-2520MOTION to Stay and for Extension of Time by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Coles-Huff, Doris). Added MOTION for Extension of Time to on 1/25/2019 (jf). (Entered: 01/25/2019)
2019-01-28MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of Defendant's 20 Unopposed Motion for a Stay and Extension of Time in Light of the Lapse of Appropriations. Defendant requests a Stay based on the lapse of appropriations to the Department of Justice. But, as appropriations to the Department have now been restored for at least three weeks, Defendant's motion to Stay is DENIED. Defendant also requests an extension on its deadline for filing its Motion for Summary Judgment, which was due on January 28, 2019. Defendant's motion for an extension is GRANTED. The parties are ORDERED to file a Joint Status Report by FEBRUARY 8, 2019, proposing a new summary judgment briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 1-28-2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 01/28/2019)
2019-01-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/8/2019, proposing a new summary judgment briefing schedule. (dot) (Entered: 01/29/2019)
2019-01-3121PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 01/31/2019)
2019-02-01MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 21 Joint Proposed Schedule. In accord with the parties' proposal, the Court ORDERS Defendant to file its Motion for Summary Judgment by MARCH 22, 2019 and Plaintiff to file its Opposition and Cross-Motion by APRIL 19, 2019. The Court further ORDERS Defendant to file its Reply and Opposition by MAY 17, 2019 and Plaintiff to file its Reply by MAY 31, 2019. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 2-1-2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 02/01/2019)
2019-03-2222MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Statement of Facts, # 3 Declaration of David Hardy (with exhibits), # 4 Vaughn Index, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 03/22/2019)
2019-04-0823STIPULATION of Dismissal (Joint) with Prejudice by DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION, JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/08/2019)
2019-04-0924ORDER DISMISSING CASE. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 4/9/2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 04/09/2019)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar