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Case TitleAMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv01321
Date Filed2018-06-04
Date Closed2022-06-16
JudgeJudge Randolph D. Moss
PlaintiffAMERICAN OVERSIGHT
Case DescriptionAmerican Oversight submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning all non-classified emails sent or received by the agency pertaining to North Korea from June 25, 2017 to July 10, 2017. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, American Oversight filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. 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

2018-06-041COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5515090) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons as to USAO, # 3 Summons as to AG, # 4 Summons as to State)(Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 06/04/2018)
2018-06-042LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 06/04/2018)
2018-06-04Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (zjd) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-053SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zjd) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-054STANDING ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties comply with the directives set forth in this Court's Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/5/2018. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-145NOTICE of Appearance by Damon William Taaffe on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 06/14/2018)
2018-06-296RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/5/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/5/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 6/11/2018., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 6/11/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 06/29/2018)
2018-07-057ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 07/05/2018)
2018-07-06MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall appear for a status conference on July 24, 2018, at 2:15 p.m., in Courtroom 21. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer prior to the status conference to discuss the status of the Department's search and scheduling for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/6/2018. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 07/06/2018)
2018-07-06Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 7/24/2018, at 2:15 PM, in Courtroom 21, before Judge Randolph D. Moss. (kt) (Entered: 07/06/2018)
2018-07-248NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Alexander McGrath on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (McGrath, Daniel) (Main Document 8 replaced on 8/7/2018) (znmw). (Entered: 07/24/2018)
2018-07-24Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Randolph D. Moss: Status Conference held on 7/24/2018. The parties shall commence the process of meeting and conferring by 8/22/2018; Joint Status Report due on or before 8/29/2018. (Court Reporter: Jeff Hook.) (kt) (Entered: 07/24/2018)
2018-08-299Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 08/29/2018)
2018-08-31MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 9 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before September 26, 2018. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 8/31/2018. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 08/31/2018)
2018-09-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/26/2018. (kt) (Entered: 09/04/2018)
2018-09-2610Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 09/26/2018)
2018-09-28MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report 10 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before October 25, 2018. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 9/28/2018. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 09/28/2018)
2018-10-01Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/25/2018. (kt) (Entered: 10/01/2018)
2018-10-2511Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 10/25/2018)
2018-10-26MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 11 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before November 30, 2018. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/26/2018. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 10/26/2018)
2018-10-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/30/2018. (kt) (Entered: 10/29/2018)
2018-11-2912Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 11/29/2018)
2018-11-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 12 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before January 30, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 11/29/2018. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 11/29/2018)
2018-11-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/30/2019. (kt) (Entered: 11/29/2018)
2019-01-3013Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 01/30/2019)
2019-01-31MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 13 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further status report on or before March 6, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/31/2019. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 01/31/2019)
2019-01-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/6/2019. (kt) (Entered: 01/31/2019)
2019-02-1514NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Christopher Charles Hair on behalf of All Defendants (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/15/2019)
2019-03-0615Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 03/06/2019)
2019-03-08MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 15 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further status report on or before May 1, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/8/2019. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/1/2019. (kt) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-05-0116Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 05/01/2019)
2019-05-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 16 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another status report on or before July 1, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 5/2/2019. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 05/02/2019)
2019-05-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/1/2019. (kt) (Entered: 05/02/2019)
2019-07-0117Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 07/01/2019)
2019-07-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 17 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further joint status report on or before September 2, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/1/2019. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 07/01/2019)
2019-07-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/2/2019. (kt) (Entered: 07/02/2019)
2019-09-0318Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
2019-09-03MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 18 , the Court hereby ORDERS that the parties shall file a further status report on or before November 4, 2019. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 9/3/19. (lcrdm1, ) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
2019-09-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/4/2019. (kt) (Entered: 09/04/2019)
2019-11-0419Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 11/04/2019)
2019-11-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 19 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before January 9, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 11/5/19. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 11/05/2019)
2020-01-0920Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 01/09/2020)
2020-01-09MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 20 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before March 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/9/20. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 01/09/2020)
2020-01-22MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the terms of the Court's revised standing order, which is available on the Court's website. Click for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/22/20. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 01/22/2020)
2020-03-0521Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 03/05/2020)
2020-03-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 21 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before April 3, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/5/20. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 03/05/2020)
2020-04-0322Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 04/03/2020)
2020-04-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 22 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit a further joint status report on or before May 27, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/5/2020. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 04/05/2020)
2020-05-2723Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 05/27/2020)
2020-05-29MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 23 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before July 8, 2020, updating the court on the status of the Department of State's FOIA operations and processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 5/29/2020. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 05/29/2020)
2020-07-0824Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 07/08/2020)
2020-07-09MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 24 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before August 21, 2020, updating the Court on the status of the Department of State's processing of responsive records. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/9/2020. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 07/09/2020)
2020-08-2125Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-08-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 25 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before October 5, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 8/21/2020. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-10-0526Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 10/05/2020)
2020-10-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 26 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before December 4, 2020. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/05/2020. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 10/05/2020)
2020-12-0427Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
2020-12-07MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 27 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before February 19, 2021. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/07/2020. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 12/07/2020)
2021-02-1928Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-02-22MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 28 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before April 20, 2021. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 02/22/2021. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 02/22/2021)
2021-04-2029Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 04/20/2021)
2021-04-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 29 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before June 18, 2021. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 04/20/2021. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 04/20/2021)
2021-04-2930NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Daniel Alexander McGrath terminated. (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 04/29/2021)
2021-06-1831Joint STATUS REPORT by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 06/18/2021)
2021-06-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 31 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before August 18, 2021. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 06/20/2021. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 06/20/2021)
2021-06-3032NOTICE of Appearance by Emma Lewis on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Lewis, Emma) (Main Document 32 replaced on 7/2/2021) (ztd). (Entered: 06/30/2021)
2021-06-3033NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Sara Kaiser Creighton terminated. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 06/30/2021)
2021-08-1834Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 08/18/2021)
2021-08-19MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 34 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before October 18, 2021, proposing a schedule for further proceedings. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 08/19/2021. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 08/19/2021)
2021-10-1835Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 10/18/2021)
2021-10-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 35 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before December 17, 2021. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 10/20/2021. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 10/20/2021)
2021-12-1736Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 12/17/2021)
2021-12-19MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 36 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before February 17, 2022. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/19/2021. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 12/19/2021)
2022-02-1737Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Hair, Christopher) (Entered: 02/17/2022)
2022-02-17MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 37 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before April 18, 2022. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 2/17/2022. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 02/17/2022)
2022-04-0738NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Dedra Seibel Curteman on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Christopher Hair (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/07/2022)
2022-04-1839Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Curteman, Dedra) (Entered: 04/18/2022)
2022-04-18MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 39 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before June 17, 2022. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/18/2022. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 04/18/2022)
2022-06-1640STIPULATION of Dismissal by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Lewis, Emma) (Entered: 06/16/2022)
2022-06-16MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' stipulation of dismissal, Dkt. 40 , it is hereby ORDERED that the case is DISMISSED. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate this case. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/16/2022. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 06/16/2022)
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