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Case TitleDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv01870
Date Filed2018-08-09
Date Closed2019-06-26
JudgeJudge Emmet G. Sullivan
PlaintiffDEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION
Case DescriptionDemocracy Forward Foundation submitted FOIA requests to the Department of the Interior for records concerning communications between certain political appointees at the agency and 12 energy companies and energy lobbying organizations whose employees are members of the agency's Royalty Policy Committee. DFF also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and took a 10-day extension. After hearing nothing further from the agency, DFF filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DefendantUNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-08-091COMPLAINT against BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5629964) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons DOI, # 5 Summons BLM, # 6 Summons U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, # 7 Summons U.S. Attorney General)(Guzman, Javier) (Entered: 08/09/2018)
2018-08-092LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Guzman, Javier) (Entered: 08/09/2018)
2018-08-09Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (zsb) (Entered: 08/09/2018)
2018-08-103STANDING ORDER: The parties are directed to read the attached Standing Order Governing Civil Cases Before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in its entirety upon receipt. The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives in the attached Standing Order. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 08/10/18. (Attachment: # 1 Exhibit 1) (mac) (Entered: 08/10/2018)
2018-08-104SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsb) (Entered: 08/10/2018)
2018-08-215RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/20/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/19/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 8/20/18., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT served on 8/20/2018; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 8/20/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Guzman, Javier) (Entered: 08/21/2018)
2018-08-306MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Travis Annatoyn, :Firm- Democracy Forward Foundation, :Address- P.O. Box 34553, Washington, D.C. 20043. Phone No. - 202-448-9090. Fee Status: No Fee Paid. by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Guzman, Javier) (Entered: 08/30/2018)
2018-09-04MINUTE ORDER granting 6 motion for leave to appear pro hac vice. Attorney Travis Annatoyn is hereby admitted pro hac vice in this matter. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 9/4/2018. (lcegs3) (Entered: 09/04/2018)
2018-09-197ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.(Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 09/19/2018)
2018-10-178MOTION to Order Status Report by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 10/17/2018)
2018-10-179RESPONSE re 8 MOTION to Order Status Report filed by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 10/17/2018)
2018-10-17MINUTE ORDER granting in part 8 motion to order status report. Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), 5 U.S.C. § 552. The parties are directed to meet and confer and propose a joint scheduling order for further proceedings in this case by no later than November 19, 2018. The parties' joint proposed scheduling order shall address the following: (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 documents responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request; (4) Whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case; (5) Whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case; (6) Whether this case would benefit from referral to a magistrate judge or the District Court Mediation Program for purposes of settlement; and (7) A proposed briefing schedule for dispositive motions, if applicable. If the parties are unable to agree on a joint recommendation, the joint proposed scheduling order shall include each party's individual recommendations. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 10/17/2018. (lcegs3) (Entered: 10/17/2018)
2018-10-18Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Scheduling Order due by 11/19/2018. (mac) (Entered: 10/18/2018)
2018-11-1910Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 11/19/2018)
2018-11-21MINUTE ORDER in view of 10 joint status report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report by no later than January 4, 2019 to advise the Court of the status of plaintiff's FOIA requests. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 11/21/2018. (lcegs3) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2018-11-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/4/2019 (mac) (Entered: 11/21/2018)
2019-01-0411STATUS REPORT by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Annatoyn, Travis) (Entered: 01/04/2019)
2019-01-30MINUTE ORDER. In view of 11 plaintiff's status report, the parties are directed to submit a joint status report by no later than February 15, 2019 to advise the Court of the status of plaintiff's FOIA requests. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 1/30/2019. (lcegs3) (Entered: 01/30/2019)
2019-01-31Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/15/2019. (mac) (Entered: 01/31/2019)
2019-02-1512Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 02/15/2019)
2019-02-19MINUTE ORDER. In view of the 12 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a joint status report updating the Court on the status of Defendants' production efforts by no later than March 22, 2019. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 2/19/2019. (lcegs3) (Entered: 02/19/2019)
2019-02-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/22/2019. (mac) (Entered: 02/19/2019)
2019-03-2113Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 03/21/2019)
2019-03-22MINUTE ORDER. In view of 13 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file a joint status report informing the Court of the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request to Defendant U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management by no later than April 22, 2019. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 3/22/2019. (lcegs3) (Entered: 03/22/2019)
2019-03-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/22/2019. (mac) (Entered: 03/25/2019)
2019-04-2214Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 04/22/2019)
2019-04-24MINUTE ORDER. In view of 14 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report with a recommendation for further proceedings by no later than May 22, 2019. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 4/24/2019. (lcegs3) (Entered: 04/24/2019)
2019-04-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/22/2019. (mac) (Entered: 04/24/2019)
2019-05-2215Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 05/22/2019)
2019-05-23MINUTE ORDER. In view of 15 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report with a recommendation for further proceedings by no later than June 25, 2019. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 5/23/2019. (lcegs3) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-23Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/25/2019. (mac) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-06-2516STIPULATION of Dismissal by UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Hendry, Melanie) (Entered: 06/25/2019)
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