Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleINSTITUTE FOR ENERGY RESEARCH v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv02966
Date Filed2018-12-17
Date Closed2020-01-15
JudgeJudge Carl J. Nichols
PlaintiffINSTITUTE FOR ENERGY RESEARCH
Case DescriptionThe Institute for Energy Research submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning correspondence to or from specified former or current officials pertaining to oversight by the House of Representatives and/or environmental issues and foreign efforts to influence U.S. policy. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, IER filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE
OFFICE OF THE LEGAL ADVISOR
SUITE 5.600
600 19TH STREET, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20522
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2018-12-171COMPLAINT FILED BY PLAINTIFF IER against UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEFENDANT ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5841854) filed by INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY RESEARCH. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet CIVIL COVER SHEET, # 2 Summons SUMMONS STATE DEPT, # 3 Summons SUMMONS US AG, # 4 Summons SUMMONS USADC, # 6 Notice and Consent CONSENT TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE)(Horner, Christopher) Modified on 12/21/2018 (zef, ). (Entered: 12/17/2018)
2018-12-172LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests (zef, ) (Entered: 12/21/2018)
2018-12-17Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (zmd) (Entered: 12/21/2018)
2018-12-213SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent) (zmd) (Entered: 12/21/2018)
2019-01-144RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 1/7/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 2/6/2019. (Horner, Christopher) (Entered: 01/14/2019)
2019-01-145RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 01/07/19. (Horner, Christopher) (Entered: 01/14/2019)
2019-01-146ENTERED IN ERROR.....RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 1/11/2019 (Horner, Christopher) Modified on 1/24/2019 (jf). (Entered: 01/14/2019)
2019-01-24NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: Document No. re 6 Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant was entered in error as duplicate filing to 4 and counsel was instructed to refile said pleading. (jf) (Entered: 01/24/2019)
2019-01-267NOTICE of Appearance by Johnny Hillary Walker, III on behalf of All Defendants (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 01/26/2019)
2019-02-068ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 02/06/2019)
2019-02-07MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues no later than 3/8/19. The joint status report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 2/7/19. (DJS) (Entered: 02/07/2019)
2019-02-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/8/2019. (tb) (Entered: 02/08/2019)
2019-03-089Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 03/08/2019)
2019-03-14MINUTE ORDER: Having considered the parties' joint status report 9 , it is hereby ordered that the parties shall file another joint report by April 22, 2019, and every 45 days thereafter. To the extent the report contains a proposed production or briefing schedule, the report shall be accompanied by a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 3/14/19. (DJS) (Entered: 03/14/2019)
2019-03-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/22/2019. (tb) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
2019-04-2210Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 04/22/2019)
2019-06-0511Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 06/05/2019)
2019-06-24Case directly reassigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-07-1812Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 07/18/2019)
2019-09-0513Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 09/05/2019)
2019-09-06MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 13 Joint Status Report, and consistent with the court's order of March 14, 2019, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by October 21, 2019 and every 45 days thereafter so long as production continues. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on September 6, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 09/06/2019)
2019-09-06Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 10/21/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 09/09/2019)
2019-10-1814Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 10/18/2019)
2019-10-22MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 14 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by December 5, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on October 22, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-10-22Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 12/5/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 10/22/2019)
2019-12-0515Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 12/05/2019)
2019-12-10MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Parties' 15 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by December 20, 2019. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on December 10, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 12/10/2019)
2019-12-10Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 12/20/2019. (zcdw) (Entered: 12/11/2019)
2019-12-2016STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 12/20/2019)
2019-12-30MINUTE ORDER. Upon review of the Defendant's 16 Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the Parties shall submit a Joint Status Report by January 17, 2020. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on December 30, 2019. (lccjn2) (Entered: 12/30/2019)
2019-12-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/17/2020. (mac) (Entered: 12/30/2019)
2020-01-0117NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew D. Hardin on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Hardin, Matthew) (Entered: 01/01/2020)
2020-01-1418STIPULATION of Dismissal with prejudice by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Walker, Johnny) (Entered: 01/14/2020)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar