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Case TitleFLOOR64, INC. et al v. UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2019cv01499
Date Filed2019-05-23
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
PlaintiffFLOOR64, INC.
PlaintiffMICHAEL MASNICK
Case DescriptionMichael Masnick, the president of Floor64, Inc. and operator of the website Techdirt, submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for records concerning an agency press release announcing the seizure of a million websites as part of a global operation. Masnick specifically asked for a list of the domain names seized, court filings related to the seizures, and communications with industry representatives mentioned in the press release. Masnick also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied the request, citing Exemption 1 (national security) and Exemption 7 (law enforcement records). Masnick filed an administrative appeal. ICE granted Masnick's appeal and remanded the request for further processing. However, after hearing nothing further from the agency, Masnick filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
Complaint attachment 10
Complaint attachment 11
Complaint attachment 12
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2019-05-231COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-6141292) filed by FLOOR64, INC., MICHAEL MASNICK. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Civil Cover Sheet, # 10 Summons Summons AG, # 11 Summons Summons ICE, # 12 Summons Summons US ATTY)(Valvo, Russel) (Attachment 9 replaced on 5/23/2019) (zef, ). (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-232LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by FLOOR64, INC., MICHAEL MASNICK (Valvo, Russel) (Main Document 2 replaced on 5/23/2019) (zef, ). (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-233NOTICE of Appearance by Lee A. Steven on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Steven, Lee) (Main Document 3 replaced on 5/31/2019) (znmw). (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-234ENTERED IN ERROR.....LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by FLOOR64, INC., MICHAEL MASNICK. (zef, ) Modified on 5/23/2019 (zef, ). (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-23NOTICE OF CORRECTED DOCKET ENTRY: re 4 LCvR 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure - Corporate Affiliations/Financial Interests was entered in error, duplicate entry. Filing already filed RE: ECF entry No. 2 . (zef, ) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-23Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zef, ) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-235SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (zef, ) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-236RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/23/2019. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/22/2019. (Valvo, Russel) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-237RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT served on 5/23/2019 (Valvo, Russel) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-238RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/23/19. (Valvo, Russel) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
2019-05-319NOTICE of Appearance by Damon William Taaffe on behalf of UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-05-3110ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 05/31/2019. (DM) (Entered: 05/31/2019)
2019-06-2411ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.(Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-06-2412MEET AND CONFER ORDER. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 6/24/2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-06-24Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/22/2019. (kt) (Entered: 06/24/2019)
2019-07-2213Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 07/22/2019)
2019-07-29MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 13 Joint Status Report. The parties report that the agency's search is complete and that it is processing responsive records. The agency reports that it has located 75 pages of responsive records and anticipated releasing those records with redactions on July 22, 2019. The Court ORDERS the parties to file another Joint Status Report on AUGUST 21, 2019, informing the Court of the parties' progress in resolving their issues. If necessary, the parties' Joint Status Report should propose a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 7-29-2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 07/29/2019)
2019-07-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/21/2019 informing the Court of the parties' progress in resolving their issues. Ifnecessary, the parties' Joint Status Report should propose a briefing schedule. (dot) (Entered: 07/30/2019)
2019-08-1214Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 08/12/2019)
2019-08-14MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report. The parties report that Defendant released what it considers to be all responsive records on July 22, 2019. Plaintiff has reviewed the records and raised some questions. The parties are conferring on these matters. The Court ORDERS the parties to file another Joint Status Report on SEPTEMBER 16, 2019, informing the Court of the parties' progress in resolving their issues. If necessary, the parties' Joint Status Report should propose a briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 8-14-2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 08/14/2019)
2019-08-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/16/2019, informing the Court of the parties' progress in resolving their issues. (dot) (Entered: 08/15/2019)
2019-09-1615Joint MOTION for Briefing Schedule by UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (Taaffe, Damon) Modified event title on 9/18/2019 (znmw). (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-16MINUTE ORDER. The Court is in receipt of the parties' 15 Joint Motion for Briefing Schedule. The parties indicate that they have conferred but have been unable to resolve issues relating to the scope of Defendant's search, whether it encompassed all aspects of Plaintiff's FOIA request, and certain specific withholdings. The Court ORDERS Defendant to file its Motion to Summary Judgment on OCTOBER 21, 2019; Plaintiff to file its Opposition and Cross-Motion by NOVEMBER 22, 2019; Defendant to file its Reply and Opposition by DECEMBER 13, 2019; and Plaintiff to file its Reply by DECEMBER 20, 2019. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 9-16-2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 09/16/2019)
2019-09-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiffs' Cross Motion due by 11/22/2019. Response to Cross Motion due by 12/13/2019. Reply to Cross Motion due by 12/20/2019. Defendant's Summary Judgment Motion due by 10/21/2019. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 11/22/2019. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 12/13/2019. (dot) (Entered: 09/17/2019)
2019-10-2116MOTION for Summary Judgment by UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (Attachments: # 1 Statement of Facts, # 2 Fuentes Declaration, # 3 Exhibits 1-9, # 4 Memorandum in Support)(Taaffe, Damon) (Entered: 10/21/2019)
2019-10-2417STIPULATION of Dismissal , Joint by FLOOR64, INC., MICHAEL MASNICK. (Valvo, Russel) (Entered: 10/24/2019)
2019-10-2418ORDER of dismissal. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 10-24-2019. (lcckk3) (Entered: 10/24/2019)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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